CAIRO, ILL., CHRISTMAS STROLL SATURDAY NIGHT

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo firefighters scaled a 75-foot evergreen Wednesday to decorate the towering pine with 116 strings of Christmas lights.

The tree was decorated as part of Cairo's annual Christmas Stroll, to be held Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. About 1,000 people are expected to walk through the streets of Cairo, which will be lined with luminaries and Christmas decorations.

The Christmas Stroll follows a triangle anchored by Magnolia Manor, the Round House and Landsen Park. The streets leading to each of those corners will be lined with luminaries, candles inside white paper bags filled with sand. The luminaries will be placed every five feet on both sides of the sidewalk.

Cairo Fire Chief Mike Brey watched as the ladder truck stretched to the top of the tree and firefighters climbed to the top. A 200-amp service is needed to power the tree's decorations.

Earlier this week firefighters helped fill 3,000 luminary bags with sand.

Santa will be seated in his house at Landsen Park. A new gazebo will be decorated. Three high-school bands, a children's choir and a dance troupe are slated to perform. Coffee and hot chocolate will be available and two horse-drawn carriages will provide rides.