Ornaments Sought for Orland Park's Community Tree

Caption: Orland Park village crews will add locally made ornaments to the village’s tree in front of the Village Hall before the mayor’s Thanksgiving Weekend Tree Lighting Ceremony. Creations should be delivered to the Village Hall before November 20.

Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin invites the community to provide ornaments for the village’s 27-foot community Christmas tree.

Each year, individuals, families, organizations, churches and other groups are invited to create ornaments for the tree.

Ornaments must be durable and weatherproof for use outdoors for at least six weeks in wet and wintry conditions. They should be decorated with colorful materials that, if possible, are reflective. To minimize environmental impact, ornamentmakers are encouraged to use wood or recycled materials.

Ornaments should be eight to ten inches in size, light weight and light in color, relatively simple in design so they can be enjoyed from a distance. They must be ready for hanging with a heavy wire attached to the top corners. Ornament makers are encouraged to add their name, organization and the year on the backs of the ornaments they create. Those made of glass or other breakable materials cannot be accepted and those contributed will not be returned.

Creations should be delivered to the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue, by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 20 so that village employees can place them on the tree. Ornament donors will be asked to leave their names, organizations, addresses and email addresses for future community projects and events.

McLaughlin will officially begin the holiday season in Orland Park on Sunday, November 29 at 5:45 p.m. when he lights the village’s tree at the close of the Winter Festival.

Ornaments should be delivered to the information desk in the lobby of the Village Hall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Further information is available by calling 708/403-6140.