Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade light up St. Charles
Nothing says Christmas like a street lit up by thousands of Christmas lights. At the St. Charles Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade, visitors can find their own piece of holiday magic.
"Downtown St. Charles is such a beautiful and magical place during the holiday season," said Jamie Blair of St. Charles, event coordinator.
The event begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, with Lighting of the Lights on the First Street Plaza in St. Charles. Visitors can watch Mayor Ray Rogina flip the switch to turn on all the Christmas lights in the town. Choral groups from St. Charles East and North high schools will sing Christmas carols.
On Saturday Nov. 29, at the historic Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., there will be a free showing of "The Polar Express." Seating will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the movie starts at 10:30 a.m.
"Santa will also be there posing for pictures and visiting with kids to find out what they want for Christmas," Blair said.
Don't miss Santa as he opens his house on First Street Plaza for the first time this season. He will greet visitors from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 29 to Dec. 21.
From 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, there will be free horse-drawn sleigh rides on the First Street Plaza. Don't forget your shopping list - for Small Business Saturday - and your camera.
"The ride begins at the First Street Plaza and goes to Main Street and back," Blair said.
Saturday's highlight will be at 5:30 p.m., with the beginning of the Electric Christmas Parade. The parade kicks off on Main and Sixth streets and goes to Fourth Avenue. The city lights will be shut down so the glow of the parade will illuminate the streets.
Illuminated floats of all sizes and shapes will make their way down the street. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will march in the parade, as well as the Aurora Area Shriners.
"We are up to 63 floats right now, which is 13 more than last year, and The Shriners add a sense of jazz to the parade," Blair said.
All of those lights may inspire visitors to decorate their own homes. Swan's Christmas tree lot, which fills the downtown area with the scent of pine and a holiday view, will be open east of the First Street Plaza, along the river. Swan's tree lot hours are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
More than 100 volunteers work hard to make the lights dazzle through the weekend, Blair said.
"Seeing all the volunteers and how dedicated they are to helping the community is probably my favorite part," Blair said.
For information, visit www.downtownstcharles.org/events/holiday-homecoming/ or call (630) 443-3967.
If you go
What: St. Charles Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade
When: 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29
Where: Along Main Street and First Street Plaza, downtown St. Charles
Admission: Free
Details: Visit <a href="http://www.downtownstcharles.org/events/holiday-homecoming">www.downtownstcharles.org/events/holiday-homecoming</a> or call (630) 443-3967.