For many Arlington Heights families, the day after Thanksgiving will bring such delights as scooping up Black Friday bargains, nibbling on leftover pumpkin pie and heading out to North School Park at sunset to celebrate the village’s annual tree-lighting ceremony.

“It’s a family tradition, watching the tree-lighting, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and then going downtown for dinner at one of the local restaurants,” said Anita Pacheco, superintendent for marketing and communications for the Arlington Heights Park District.

This year’s festivities will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the park, just north of downtown at Eastman Street and Arlington Heights Road, and will feature all the family favorites from years past: a tree donated from a local family and erected in the park’s fountain, singing by John Hersey High School’s Dickens Carolers and holiday exhibits festooned with 70,000 tiny lights and scattered through the park, including a wooden sleigh perfect for gathering the family for a Christmas card photograph.

Budgetary concerns have prompted village officials to once again forgo the Chistkindlmarket, a popular German Christmas festival serving up music, food and arts and crafts. The village was forced to cancel it in 2009 because of the high costs of set up and staffing.

This year, Pacheco said this village also is aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by using LED bulbs in a few of its holiday displays in the park.

“The park district is committed to sustainability and trying to be as green as possible,” Pacheco said.

For details on this year’s tree lighting ceremony, call the park district at 847-577-3000.

In Prospect Heights, the annual tree-lighting will be presented by the local Garden Club at 5 p.m. Saturday in front of the Police Station, 14 E. Camp McDonald Road.