Santa Claus arrived in downtown Evanston this evening to light the holiday tree in Fountain Square.
Youngsters from the children’s choir of the Music Institute of Chicago led the crowd of about 200 people in seasonal songs while waiting for Santa to arrive on a big red Evanston Fire Department truck along with Mayor Lorraine Morton.
The mayor was suitably impressed with the size of the tree, donated by a local resident and erected in the square by the city’s forestry department.
And Santa found a young helper to throw the switch to turn on the lights.
The evening’s misty weather cast a special glow on the scene as the crowd gazed at the newly lit tree..
And Santa had the full attention of one of his young fans …
…who just might want to know that Santa will be making return visits to Evanston this year from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9, at 1620 Sherman Ave. in the Sherman Plaza complex.