Naperville holiday parade 'just about having fun'
When pilgrims and turkeys clear out of town and Thanksgiving feasts have settled, it's time to welcome in the big man in red for his turn to shine.
And what better way to see Santa than on a float in a parade in a downtown decorated and lighted for the season?
Kristi Landorf, president and CEO of Little Friends in Naperville, can't think of one.
She's a little biased, as her nonprofit autism and developmental disability service organization runs the annual Parade of Lights. But with 56 parade units, including eight decorated floats, Landorf says this year's event will be a great occasion to catch some holiday spirit.
“It's a way for the community to celebrate the holidays together without any other agenda,” Landorf said. “There are no politicians. It's one of the last things we have in our community that is just about having fun.”
The parade steps off at 5 p.m. Sunday from Jackson Avenue, just west of Eagle Street in downtown Naperville. With Little Friends as its sponsor, the parade has become a mainstay as Naperville bids Thanksgiving farewell and anticipates the rest of the holiday season.
High school students will start the afternoon's festivities by singing carols at Van Buren Avenue and Main Street. Then, volunteers will hand out glow sticks to children along the route to light the way and the parade will begin.
Staging from a different location because of construction of a hotel, restaurant and shopping district along Water Street, the parade route continues heading east on Jackson Avenue until Main Street. Turning north, parade participants from community clubs, Scout troops, nonprofits and businesses will follow Main Street until Van Buren Avenue, where the route heads west. The parade finishes where Van Buren dead-ends at Naper Elementary on Eagle Street.
Landorf said this year's total of eight floats from groups such as Downtown Naperville Alliance, John Greene Realtor and Naperville Magazine raises the float count by one from last year's record of seven.
At the end of a year celebrating its 50th anniversary, Little Friends is getting in on the floating fun, too — instead of being jolly on a trolley.
“There was a real desire to make it a little more festive,” Landorf said. “And with a float you can see people better.”
The parade represents the kickoff of Little Friends' text to donate campaign, which seeks money for its Giving Tree program to provide holiday gifts for clients whose families can't afford them. Anyone who wants to participate can text “gift” to 49798 to choose an amount to give.
Landorf said even small offerings of $5 can help buy something like a pair of gloves to warm someone's season, and 90 cents on every dollar goes to helping clients in programs such as schools, life skills training centers and group homes.
There will be plenty of red, green and glow to see during the parade, but rest assured, parents, — this won't be a long night. Landorf said the kids can take in the floats, wave hi to Santa at the finale and still make it home by 7 p.m. to get ready for school after a long weekend.
Because, after all, this is a simple parade to promote holiday fun.
“There's nothing else in it,” Landorf said. “It's the holidays. Santa comes in at the end. It's purely what it is.”
Naperville Parade of Lights
<b>When:</b> 5 p.m. Sunday
<b>Where:</b> Steps off from Jackson Avenue, just west of Eagle Street in downtown Naperville
<b>Cost:</b> Free