Friday night's holiday festivities shed "greener" light on a Wilmette tradition.

The annual holiday tree lighting featured more than three times the bulbs and less than 1/30 of the watt usage, according to village officials.

"It's fun to live in a small town and see friends at events like this—that's what I enjoy," said Caryn Kelly, a five-year resident who had never attended the event before. Kelly was accompanied by her daughters Lauren, 5, and Amelia, 8.

"It was wonderful, we liked the tree a lot." 

It's not just residents who come to check out the lights.

Bill Westfall, who lives in Glenview, has watched the tree lighting for five years.

"Glenview doesn't have the good lights." Westfall said, "They don't have anything like this—this is tradition."

Stay tuned for Patch's photos of the annual holiday parade as well.