The City of LaGrange District 2 city council members are hosting the first annual Hands Helping Hands Thanksgiving Tree Lighting Parade Celebration Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.

The event will begin in Calumet Park, 109 Union Street. The group will then hold a half mile parade on Union Street to the Union Street Park Christmas tree where there will be a community celebration and tree lighting.

The honorees for the evening include Jake Sessions, Eurie Kelley and the six injured LaGrange Fire Department firefighters.

Sessions is known for spearheading the “Up All Night Feed the Hungry” event during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for decades. 

Kelley has given of herself her entire life by volunteering to help community youth and decorating the Union Street Park during the holidays for decades. 

The six injured LaGrange firefighters are also being honored because their selfless acts when they received injuries in a structure fire on Labor Day. 

District 2 Councilman Dr. Willie Edmondson is helping to coordinate this community celebration.

“We wanted to bring back the wonderful memories of the old parades in District 2,” Edmondson said. “This is a Thanksgiving parade, and we are thanking God and the people who have made our community so great and don’t get the acknowledgment they deserve.” 

Council members LeGree McCamey and Nathan Gaskin, as well as former city council member Norma Tucker, Leon Childs, Dr. Robert Tucker and Lisa Farrow are also helping to host the celebration. Mayor Jim Thornton and LaGrange Police Chief Lou Dekmar will also be a part of the event. The celebration will begin at Calumet Park, 109 Union Street, Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.