Military personnel invited to St. Charles parade

As a part of its annual Holiday Homecoming and Electric Christmas Parade event, the Downtown St. Charles Partnership is inviting local military personnel to ride on or accompany the organization's float.

"This event has long been known as a 'holiday homecoming,' with hundreds of people coming back to St. Charles from being away at college, or from their new homes in other communities, or to visit relatives in the area," stated Deanna Chrones, communications coordinator for the Downtown Partnership.

"This year, we wanted to invite area military men and women who are home on leave for the holidays or who recently returned home from service. The holidays are traditionally when families get together, and this truly represents a holiday homecoming."

Chrones explained that the Downtown St. Charles Partnership's float will accommodate upward of 12 to 15 people to ride on it. "If we get more military personnel interested in participating, they are welcome to walk alongside to enjoy the community's 'welcome home' message."

Area families who have a loved one scheduled to be home on leave or who has recently served and is now home are encouraged to call the Downtown Partnership office at (630) 513-5386. "We need everyone's help in making this year's event a truly memorable 'holiday homecoming'," Chrones points out, "and would like to share the holidays with as many military personnel as possible."

Interested parties should call the Downtown Partnership office (630-513-5396) by Wednesday, Nov. 19, to register their participation.

The Holiday Homecoming events and the Electric Christmas Parade are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29. Numerous free, family-oriented events are scheduled throughout the day both days, highlighted by the award-winning Electric Christmas Parade on Saturday night, beginning at 5:30 p.m., on Main Street between Sixth Street and Fourth Avenue. For information about the complete event schedule, visit dtown.org.