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Perhaps Main Street is slightly reluctant to accept the holiday spirit. After volunteers finished decorating light poles in downtown Morton Saturday night, a blown circuit knocked out power to the downtown street lights.
But, the lights should be back to normal by Friday, just in time for the launch of holiday activities.
The second annual Holidazzle shopping experience and lighting of the Morton Community Foundation Tree of Dreams is primed to take the holiday spirit up a notch come Friday evening.
“For 40 years, it has been a tradition in Morton to have a holiday open house the second weekend of November,” said Morton Tourism Association president Susan Pyles. “Four years ago, we tried to make it communitywide. Every shopping district in our community is participating this year.”
Morton’s annual Holidazzle open house begins with the ceremonial lighting of the MCF’s Christmas Tree of Dreams at 7 p.m. on the foundation’s office lawn at 309 N. Main St. in Morton.
The tree lighting kicks off Holidazzle, Morton’s holiday shopping experience, sponsored by the MTA. Stores will be open with refreshments and holiday kick-off specials throughout the candle-lit downtown area.
The Holidazzle shopping experience includes businesses within downtown Morton, the Field Shopping Center and Jackson Plaza.
“We have a lot more activities going on at the Field Shopping Center,” said Pyles. “We were real happy to include that part of town.”
This year, the event is more than a Christmas-tree lighting and a stroll through Morton’s business districts. Morton Community United Church of Christ, 300 N. Main St., will host a chili supper from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Santa Claus will also make an appearance at Morton Community Bank’s downtown branch during that time.
Morton Community Foundation’s Tree of Dreams, however, is the focal point of holiday kick-off activities. Last year, it was an unexpected success, said foundation executive director Scott Witzig.
“The crowd that showed up at last year’s tree lighting event was so far above and beyond what I expected,” Witzig said. “We had several hundred people show up, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. The (Morton Junior High School) choir was singing carols, and those kids had such enthusiasm. I think it was contagious.”
He said guests for last year’s event were pleased with the evening’s activities.
“After the event, we heard so many people tell us how much they enjoyed the tree lighting,” Witzig said. “They often commented about how neat it was to bring the community together for such a nice tradition.”
Perhaps Main Street is slightly reluctant to accept the holiday spirit. After volunteers finished decorating light poles in downtown Morton Saturday night, a blown circuit knocked out power to the downtown street lights.
But, the lights should be back to normal by Friday, just in time for the launch of holiday activities.
The second annual Holidazzle shopping experience and lighting of the Morton Community Foundation Tree of Dreams is primed to take the holiday spirit up a notch come Friday evening.
“For 40 years, it has been a tradition in Morton to have a holiday open house the second weekend of November,” said Morton Tourism Association president Susan Pyles. “Four years ago, we tried to make it communitywide. Every shopping district in our community is participating this year.”
Morton’s annual Holidazzle open house begins with the ceremonial lighting of the MCF’s Christmas Tree of Dreams at 7 p.m. on the foundation’s office lawn at 309 N. Main St. in Morton.
The tree lighting kicks off Holidazzle, Morton’s holiday shopping experience, sponsored by the MTA. Stores will be open with refreshments and holiday kick-off specials throughout the candle-lit downtown area.
The Holidazzle shopping experience includes businesses within downtown Morton, the Field Shopping Center and Jackson Plaza.
“We have a lot more activities going on at the Field Shopping Center,” said Pyles. “We were real happy to include that part of town.”
This year, the event is more than a Christmas-tree lighting and a stroll through Morton’s business districts. Morton Community United Church of Christ, 300 N. Main St., will host a chili supper from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Santa Claus will also make an appearance at Morton Community Bank’s downtown branch during that time.
Morton Community Foundation’s Tree of Dreams, however, is the focal point of holiday kick-off activities. Last year, it was an unexpected success, said foundation executive director Scott Witzig.
“The crowd that showed up at last year’s tree lighting event was so far above and beyond what I expected,” Witzig said. “We had several hundred people show up, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. The (Morton Junior High School) choir was singing carols, and those kids had such enthusiasm. I think it was contagious.”
He said guests for last year’s event were pleased with the evening’s activities.
“After the event, we heard so many people tell us how much they enjoyed the tree lighting,” Witzig said. “They often commented about how neat it was to bring the community together for such a nice tradition.”
This year, the MCF Tree of Dreams, donated by Shirley Hildebrand, owner of Hildebrand Christmas Tree Farm, was escorted to its location by Jay Winkel Lawn and Landscaping Service. Winkel, a Morton police auxiliary officer, came up with the idea to give the tree a police escort, which happened Friday.
“I think each year, we’ll likely build on the ideas from previous years to make this an even bigger and better event,” Witzig added.
“The MCF brought together a committee, chaired by Nicole Gibson, a member of our board of trustees, along with Michele Kuhl, also an MCF trustee, and Kristin Kumpf, Christina Taylor and Mitch Morgan,” Witzig said. “They’ve done a fantastic job of organizing this event, which coincides with the Holidazzle shopping experience.”
“The committee came up with the idea to hold a poster contest with local kindergarten through sixth-grade school children. The children were given the opportunity to help design posters for use in promoting the Tree of Dreams lighting ceremony. Bruce and Theresa Kodatt of Pumpkin Glass donated prizes to the top winners of the contest. All posters are being used to promote the lighting ceremony,” Witzig added.
The holiday celebration continues Saturday with Morton United Methodist Church’s annual craft sale beginning at 9 a.m.
The Morton Community Church of Christ will open at 9 a.m. with a Stop & Shop Christmas Open House.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be open houses at the Field Shopping Center, downtown, Jackson Plaza, Johnson Florist and the Red Barn areas of the village, with special sales and free snacks at many locations. A trolley will be available free for visitors that will travel between the shopping districts.
At the Field Shopping Center, there will be visits with Santa, free horse and carriage rides, jewelry-making classes and live music. A wine tasting will be held at The Liquor Station and Pumpkin Postal.
“This gives people an opportunity to come out to the stores and see the new merchandise they have to offer,” Pyles said.
