Kankakee kicks off holiday season with lion wreathing, tree lighting
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Tiffany Blanchette
Photojournalist
The 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee occurred Thursday at Kankakee Train Depot and Kankakee Public Library. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree.
 The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Payton Morris, 11, and Max Cooke, 2, both of Kankakee, had their names drawn to help with the wreath tradition this year.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Two-year-old Max Cooke, of Kankakee, helps Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis, right, and Kankakee Public Library director Allison Beasley, left, place a wreath on one of the library's lions during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree. The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Eleven-year-old Payton Morris, of Kankakee, also was selected to help this year.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Santa Claus celebrates with children as the city of Kankakee's Christmas tree is lit Thursday night at the Kankakee Train Depot during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee. Two children helped place wreaths on the Kankakee Public Library's lion statues ahead of parading to the depot to light the tree with Santa Claus and continue the evening indoors with cookies and hot chocolate. MORE PHOTOS.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis greets the crowd at the Kankakee Public Library on Thursday during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree. The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Payton Morris, 11, and Max Cooke, 2, both of Kankakee, had their names drawn to help with the wreath tradition this year.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Attendees walk to the Kankakee Train Depot from the Kankakee Public Library on Thursday during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree. The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Payton Morris, 11, and Max Cooke, 2, both of Kankakee, had their names drawn to help with the wreath tradition this year.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Kankakee Public Library director Allison Beasley greets attendees of the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee on Thursday. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree. The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Payton Morris, 11, and Max Cooke, 2, both of Kankakee, had their names drawn to help with the wreath tradition this year.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Kankakee Public Library staff Mary Bass, right, and Corine Rose, dressed as Christmas trees, smile at 2-year-old Max Cooke, of Kankakee, as he finishes helping place a wreath on the library's lions Thursday night during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee.
Kankakee kicks off holiday season
Attendees await the drawing of the names Thursday at the Kankakee Public Library during the 16th annual Lion Wreathing and City Tree Lighting in downtown Kankakee. Each year, two children's names are drawn to assist in the tradition, followed by a parade to the Kankakee Train Depot for the lighting of the city's Christmas tree. The Kankakee Fire Department escorts Santa Claus to the celebration, which continues indoors at the depot with cookies and hot chocolate. Payton Morris, 11, and Max Cooke, 2, both of Kankakee, had their names drawn to help with the wreath tradition this year.
Tiffany Blanchette
Photojournalist
Tiffany has been a photojournalist with the DJ since 2014 & Photo Editor since 2018. She covers everything from daily news, sports and Lifestyles magazine shoots. A Herscher grad, Tiffany received her B.A. in Journalism at Southern Illinois University.
