Holiday Homecoming marching through St. Charles
Submitted by Downtown St. Charles Partnership
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership will hold its Holiday Homecoming 2011 on Friday, Nov. 25, to Sunday, Nov. 27. While the event will continue to feature crowd favorites, like the very popular Electric Christmas Parade and free horse-drawn sleigh rides, some changes have been made to make it even easier for people to partake in the festivities.
Lighting of the Lights: Holiday Homecoming takes place annually in downtown St. Charles the weekend following Thanksgiving, and will kick off with Lighting of the Lights at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. This event has been held in Lincoln Park in recent years, but will take place on the 1st Street Plaza in 2011. Jennifer Faivre, executive director for the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, is very enthusiastic about this change in venue. “The 1st Street Plaza is a more central location and it offers convenient parking in the adjacent parking deck, making it easier and safer for people attending the ceremony,” Faivre said. It will also provide convenient access for people who wish to shop or dine before or after the event, she added.Holiday Movie: Another Holiday Homecoming tradition is the free Holiday Movie at the Arcada Theatre. Two additional free movies have been added to the 2011 lineup. On Saturday, Nov. 26, #147;The Santa Clause#148; will be shown at 10:30 a.m. #147;Elf#148; will play at 12:30 p.m. #147;Miracle on 34th Street#148; will shown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. Faivre said the decision to add additional movies was an easy one. #147;Providing free family entertainment is what Holiday Homecoming is all about, which is especially important in these challenging economic times. We took a very popular event and made it accessible to more people.#148;Saturday#146;s activities will also include the opening of Santa#146;s House on the 1st Street Plaza, free horse-drawn sleigh rides in Lincoln Park and, of course, the Electric Christmas Parade on Main Street at 5:30 p.m. Michael Flanagan is the 2011 Holiday Homecoming Committee Chairman.Family Concert: The St. Charles Library is hosting a free family concert featuring Joel Frankel at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Families can attend the concert, and then stay downtown St. Charles to enjoy Lighting of the Lights. For more information on Holiday Homecoming events, visit DowntownStCharles.org/HolidayHomecoming.