Despite the frigid temperatures that barely hovered at zero degrees, Saturday was a busy day in Park Ridge’s Uptown neighborhood where scores of people turned out for the second annual “Park Ridge Christmas Stroll.”
Families ventured to Hodges Park, Park Ridge Community Church, the public library and other local venues for activities that included seasonal contests, a children’s pageant and, of course, visits with Santa.
Park Ridge Christmas Stroll celebrated the season as well as the community, and the money raised went to local charities.
“This is an event for families and kids and it benefits families and kids,” said Dolly McCarthy.
McCarthy is the publisher of “Stroll Park Ridge,” a monthly community magazine that celebrates all things Park Ridge, and she is the brains behind the Christmas Stroll.
“We wanted to do an event that was an opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate Christmas together,” she said.
Most of the event was free and the ones with a fee raised funds for various community charities. But mostly, it was free. Participants could walk from Santa’s Workshop to St. Paul of the Cross Church to the Park Ridge Community Church to the library. There was a choral performance, an ugly sweater contest, crafts, and more. Funds were raised through the bake sale and a cake walk activity.
Karl Ochsner was the big winner of the ugly sweater contest. His outfit featured some cutout paper figurines and a red banner that read “Santa stop here.” It was his second year taking the top “ugly” prize and he said he will be back again next year.
“You gotta get festive,” he said. “It’s a great Park Ridge event.”
McCarthy is also a member of the Kiwanis Club and much of the proceeds from the event went to support the club buying mental health care kits for area high school students.
The kits cost the club $8,500 a year and they get passed out to a variety of local high schools. Any high school that is interested can request the kits.
One of the new events this year was the Santa Stroll and Jingle Jog, which raised money for The Harbour, a nonprofit agency that provides shelter and support for homeless youth and young mothers experiencing homelessness
“We raised $6,000,” McCarthy said about the inaugural event, which featured a 5K run, one-mile walk and jog for kids.
McCarthy said the event seemed to draw more people last year but didn’t doubt that the cold temperatures put a freeze on attendance numbers. Nevertheless, parking lots around the Uptown area bustled and the churches were filled with people.
“One of the things I learned being the publisher of the community magazine is, this town comes out,” she said. “They open their hearts and wallets for each other.”
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.
