This year, Orland Park’s Garrett Buege was prepared.
In 2024, the Orland Park Christmas Parade was run under freezing conditions and Buege admits he and his family were not prepared for the weather.
That didn’t happen in 2025.
This year’s version of the parade took place Nov. 30 in freezing weather not long after a heavy snowfall hit throughout Illinois and most of the Midwest.
He brought a shovel so that he and another group of people could clear some snow and have a close view of the parade, which went through Ravinia Avenue and ended at Village Hall, where there was a tree-lighting ceremony plus indoor and outdoor activities.
But Buege, a utility worker, wasn’t through.
He brought a heater attached to a propane tank. That took a few tries before it turned on but he got it going.
But he wasn’t through.
He took the shovel back to the car and brought out some plywood to stand on.
“I work outside for my job and I tailgate,” he said. “We learned after our first time last year.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, Todd Bergman was armed with a big bag of popcorn as he and his daughter, Alma, prepared to watch the 49-entry parade. They were there to watch his son and her brother, Noah, march with District 135 mascots representing Jerling Jr. High.
“I think he will be much warmer than us in his costume,” Todd said of Noah.
First-year Mayor James Dodge lit the village tree and a drone and fireworks show followed.
The Christmas Festival, also known as the Winter WondORLAND featured lighted décor displays, reindeer, a Princess Palace, and Enchanted Village Green, Santa’s Sleight and Snowglobe and more.
The Civic Center was full of action including the usual long line to meet Santa Claus.
