One of the stateline's largest trees lights up for the first time this season.

This is the annual tree lighting ceremony at Machesney Park Village Hall.

Families are joining Mayor Tom Strickland to light a 20-foot Colorado blue spruce Christmas tree. The community will decorate it with their own ornaments. Santa Claus came early to take pictures with kids, who enjoyed hot cocoa and cookies.

"It's nice to see something like this go on considering everything that's been going on in the communities lately," said Tommy Cannell, Machesney Park resident. "That there's still positiveness that can come out of everybody getting together and it being Christmas time."

Cannell won first place for small businesses in light up the parks parade.