The Village of Orland Park’s 2025 Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and Festival closed Saturday with a community countdown led by Mayor James Dodge and a first-time fireworks-and-drone show following performances by local dance groups and school ensembles.

The parade began along Ravinia Avenue, running north from 151st Street to 147th Street and featured more than 50 entries, including the Orland Park Fire Protection District, local police, youth sports teams, dance companies and business floats. Event announcers read a list of platinum and event sponsors that included Comcast, Christopher Burke Engineering, Dave & Buster’s, Northwestern and Waste Management.

“The parade has officially started,” the event announcer said at the outset, and later noted the schedule for the evening’s programming, with the Carl Sandburg High School Chamber Singers leading carols before the mayor and community countdown to light the village tree.

Organizers highlighted parade features across a broad cross-section of local groups and businesses: performance ensembles such as the Carl Sandburg Marching Eagles and the Carl Sandburg Chamber Singers; dance schools including American Dance Center, Elevate Dance Company and Conquer Dance Company; youth organizations like Cub Scouts and the Orland Park Pioneers football and cheer programs; and many commercial participants, among them Giordano’s Pizza, Joey’s Red Hots, Andy’s Frozen Custard and Texas Roadhouse. Waste Management and Ozinga participated with large, decorated trucks; the announcer said one Ozinga “Merry Mixer” was programmed with more than 32,000 lights and animated sequences.

The Orland Park Fire Protection District was introduced as the parade’s lead unit; the announcer described it as employing "over 114 career firefighters" who are cross-trained as paramedics and operating from six fire stations with its own dispatch and maintenance facilities. The announcer also spotlighted the Village of Warwick Park Special Recreation program, noting its year-round therapeutic recreation services for people with special needs.

At roughly 5 p.m., the Carl Sandburg Chamber Singers led carols near Village Hall, and Mayor James Dodge joined residents for the community countdown to illuminate the village tree. After the countdown, event hosts closed the ceremony with holiday greetings: “Merry Christmas, everyone. Happy holidays,” one speaker said.

Organizers urged attendees to remain after the lighting for contracted performances from local dance groups and the festival’s first combined fireworks-and-drone show. Announcers also reminded the public of activities and vendor offerings at the Village Hall parking lot, including tree and wreath sales by the Orland Park Lions Club and other vendor booths.

The event concluded with Santa meeting residents at the festival area and final remarks from the hosts; no formal votes or governmental actions took place during the ceremony.

What’s next: organizers listed post-lighting performances and encouraged residents to enjoy the festival activities and vendor booths around Village Hall.