North Lawndale neighborhood continues longstanding tradition with annual Christmas lighting event

Christmas lights shine on a home at in the 3300 W Flournoy block during the Block Club Christmas Lighting event.

Shay J., a resident of the 3300 W Flournoy block club participates in the Christmas lighting event each year.

Residents typically start putting up Christmas decorations after the Thanksgiving holiday and have until the day before the event to finish.

This is one of several houses participating in the annual Christmas lighting event this year.

A Christmas bow hangs from a fence during the Christmas light event on Friday, Dec. 13.

This home hung lights connecting their home to the tree in their yard for the Christmas light event.

Block club members pass out treats like fruit cups, hot dogs, cookies, hot chocolate and more to community members during the event.

Shay J's home passed out nachos to community members during the event.

The block club members at this home payed Christmas music for people to enjoy during the event.

Christmas lights shining bright at the home at 3336 W Flournoy during the 3300 W Flournoy Christmas lighting block club event.

	By Maia McDonald, Environmental Health and Wellness Editor, The Real Chi

On Dec. 13, 2019, the 3300 W Flournoy block club, located in the North Lawndale neighborhood, held its annual Block Club Christmas Lighting ceremony. People living on the block who chose to participate in the event decorated their homes for the holidays with extravagant lighting displays, inflatables, Christmas bows and more. Community members at the event were able to enjoy treats like hot chocolate and nachos, provided free-of-charge by folks in the block club, to warm up while seeing all of the different lighting set ups throughout the block. North Lawndale residents, both young and old, showed up for the event this past Friday, making sure to continue a longstanding West Side tradition, one that has waned the last few years. 

In past years, the entire block has participated in the annual lighting event, with Christmas lights shining down street and nearly every family getting involved. However, as current residents state, multiple deaths and people moving out of the neighborhood have caused their to be lower participation in recent years. Though, this didn’t stop this year’s crop of folks to brave the cold in their winter jackets and enjoy a local North Lawndale event, one that shines a spotlight on the West Side each holiday season.