HUTSONVILLE, Ill (WTWO/WAWV) — Families continued a long-standing tradition this weekend of decorating dozens of Christmas trees along the Wabash River in Hutsonville, Illinois.
Many of the trees are decorated in honor of a loved one who has passed away.
Chrissy Arvin is with the Hutsonville Lighting Committee. She says, for her, this event is personal.

“In January of 2020, we lost my brother, who was a veteran, to PTSD,” explains Arvin.”So, instead of getting another tree, we put a flag that is out on the gate.”
She continued, “The first year, we had about 39 trees. They were mostly the local businesses and the village, itself and just a few amount of families.  My family was one of the original families to have a tree so that means a lot to us.”

Organizers are planning a Christmas on the River event this Saturday. It starts at 5 p.m. central time in downtown Hutsonville.
There will be a cookie walk and other fun activities.  You can get much more information on the Hutsonville Lighting Committee’s Facebook page.