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Hartland Lights 2024 features tree lighting, school performances and downtown business activities
Summary
Hartland Lights 2024, organized by the Village of Hartland and the Downtown Business Improvement District, included a tree-lighting ceremony led by contest winners, choirs and carolers, a shuttle service and numerous downtown business activities and sponsor displays.
Hartland Lights 2024, a holiday festival organized by the Village of Hartland and the Downtown Business Improvement District, featured a tree-lighting ceremony, performances by local school groups and carolers, and a range of downtown business promotions and activities.
Event organizers said the gathering aims to showcase downtown businesses, support local charities and offer family activities during the holiday season. The program included live music and choirs, vendor activities such as ornament making and treats, a shuttle that ran a downtown route and an announcement that the seasonal holiday train will stop in Hartland with an appeal for food pantry donations.
The program opened with performances from local groups, including the Arrowhead High School Broadway Company and the North Shore Middle School choir, followed by the Saint Charles carolers and other musical acts. Jackson and Aubrey Bower, identified as winners of an online contest, were invited to light the tree as part of the ceremony. Jeff Banersteel, Village President, joined the stage to acknowledge longtime volunteer organizer Marlene and to lead a community “Merry Christmas” appreciation for her 16 years of work on the event.
Event announcements listed participating downtown businesses and specific activities: Zidco offered a discount on hot chocolate; Theo Vision hosted an ornament craft station; Virgin Banyan provided photos with Santa; Hometown Pharmacy ran a card-making activity for elderly residents; Generations Dental handed out “magic reindeer food”; S3 Deli and Little Dippers offered a holiday ice-cream activity; Boardwalk Financial Strategies hosted a Zion Lutheran ornament activity and coffee; Avalon Graphics maintained a fire and s'mores station; Mosaic Health held a prize drawing; Heartland Family Chiropractic ran a children’s carnival; and several other independent retailers offered crafts, demonstrations or refreshment specials. Several sponsors were listed by name, including the Petco Foundation, Kwik Trip, Tabby’s Lake Country, Klix Carpet, Raw Grounds Coffee, Delsmann Transport and others.
Organizers said Delsmann Transport provided a free shuttle that ran routes along North Avenue, Capitol and Cottonwood and continued service until 21:00; attendees were directed to park at the Piggly Wiggly and use the shuttle if needed. The holiday train stop was announced for Sunday at 05:30 along Colling Avenue; organizers encouraged food pantry donations to support the train’s visits.
The emcee and Village President thanked public-safety and public-works departments for support and urged attendees to patronize participating downtown businesses that remained open with specials for the evening. The program closed with an invitation to continue visiting booths and activities and a voiced “Merry Christmas.”
The event was presented as a community celebration and business-promotion evening; no formal municipal actions or votes were recorded in the transcript.
