An electric evening in Naperville
Light! Claus! Action!
Naperville will get into the Christmas spirit this weekend when its Hometown Holidays celebration returns downtown.
If you're looking for subtle, this probably isn't the place for you.
This year's version of the annual party will feature an Electric Light Parade, appearances and performances by celebrities, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and countless shopping specials.
The weekend will be highlighted by the Grand Illumination, a moment when the city flips the switch on thousands of tiny lights that set downtown streets aglow.
Things get rolling at 3:30 p.m. Friday with Flat Out Sharps, an a capella group from Naperville North High School,that will perform on the entertainment stage at Webster Street and Jefferson Avenue.
Next up, it's the Friends of Little Friends Electric Light Parade at 4:30 p.m. The parade is a fundraiser for the Naperville-based agency that provides services for disabled people.
"The parade is a good time to bring the community together and spread the word about Little Friends," said Cally Edwards, events and volunteer manager for the group. "We really enjoy this opportunity to help bring this parade to the community."
"Last year was the first time we moved it to a nighttime parade," said Courtney Brown, manager of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, the nonprofit merchants' group staging Hometown Holidays, which is sponsored by UBS Financial Services.
The parade will feature 36 marching units -- up by 10 from last year -- and several well-known faces.
Figure skater Evan Lysacek, an Olympic competitor and 2007 U.S. National Champion, will return to his hometown for the parade. Lysacek, 22, is a 2003 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School.
Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist and reporter Dave Savini, both of Channel 2 WBBM-TV, will march alongside representatives from local businesses, organizations and clubs.
Grand marshals this year will be Jack Ryan, chief executive officer and president of Little Friends, and Steve Monteith, chairman of the Little Friends board. Naperville resident Greg Dellinger of Radio Disney will be the parade's master of ceremonies.
The parade will begin at Centennial Beach, travel east on Jackson Avenue, turn north on Webster Street, west on Van Buren Street and south on Eagle Street, where it will end.
At roughly 5:15 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to flip the switch. When they do, more than 300,000 lights strung throughout downtown are expected to blaze brightly.
"It lights up the whole downtown," said Brown, adding that the lights will be switched on nightly throughout the holiday season.
After the Grand Illumination, children will have the opportunity to meet with Santa and his wife on the entertainment stage. Two of the couple's live reindeer will be available for visits at the Paw Paw parking lot, between Anderson's Bookshop and Chico's on Jefferson Avenue, until 7:30 p.m.
The Kroehler Family YMCA downtown will host an open house Saturday morning.
Santa will be at several locations both Saturday and Sunday as musical groups, magicians and comedians entertain at downtown locations.
The central business district also will turn into a shoppers' paradise, Brown said.
"Participating merchants will be offering discounts," she said.
Shoppers can help a good cause as they cross needed items off their list. Brown said several merchants will donate a percentage of their sales to Little Friends.
And keen-eyed shoppers who participate in the DNA's Winter Window Walk and successfully spot Leon, the DNA's little polar bear hidden in shop windows, will be entered in a drawing to win the cuddly little guy.
Hometown Holidays promises to attract a large crowd of revelers, if past celebrations are an accurate indicator, Brown said.
"Last year, we had 10,000 people come just for Friday night, just for the parade and the Grand Illumination," she said.
If you go
What: Hometown Holidays
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Downtown Naperville
Who: Sponsored by the Downtown Naperville Alliance
Info: (630) 544-3372 or www.downtownnaperville.com