St. Charles celebrates 25th annual Electric Christmas Parade with guest of honor and grand marshal
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Electric Christmas Parade, the St. Charles Business Alliance has named Deborah Foote as the Community Guest of Honor for the the St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade.
A St. Charles resident for nearly 60 years, Foote was instrumental in the inception of the illuminated parade which began in 2001. Her initial involvement with the St. Charles Holiday Parade began in 1995, when it was held on the first Sunday of December during the day. Foote recognized an opportunity to transform the event and create a special experience for the community.
“I have always admired the Disney Electric Light Parade, and the idea came to me that we needed to move the parade to the evening – full of lights and sounds of the holiday,” Foote said.
Thanks to her efforts, the Electric Christmas Parade has become a tradition that we continue to celebrate and always leaves visitors in awe. Foote continued to work alongside the Downtown St. Charles Partnership for five years as chairman of the Electric Christmas Parade.
“I couldn’t be more pleased and proud that this parade has become a family tradition for so many,” Foote said. “Knowing that I had a part in it makes me smile every year.”
The Electric Christmas Parade, presented by St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, will start at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, in downtown St. Charles. It will travel down Main Street starting at Fourth Street and concluding at Sixth Avenue.
The parade is part of St. Charles Holiday Homecoming, a two-day event that begins on Friday, Nov 28 with a Lighting of the Lights ceremony, sponsored by Solutions Networking.
Grand marshal
The events committee also named Chris Witaske as the grand marshal for this year’s parade
Actor Chris Witaske is a St. Charles native who graduated from St. Charles East High School in 2001. Following graduation, Witaske studied theater arts at the University of Iowa before moving to Chicago to work at comedy venues including Second City Theater.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2013, Witaske had his television acting debut in Fox’s “New Girl,” which led to various other roles in shows such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Netflix original comedy series “Love,” and Emmy Award-winning FX original series “The Bear,” to name a few.
Along with his roles in television and film, Witaske is also recognized for his recurring role in the popular “Turning into Your Parents” Progressive Insurance commercials, and co-creating the adult animated series on Netflix, “Chicago Party Aunt.”
Witaske. on being named this year’s grand marshal, said “I’m incredibly proud to be from St. Charles – it’s such a wonderful community that has given me so much support throughout the years.”
“Although I now live in Los Angeles, St. Charles will always be home to me, and I’m truly honored to be part of this holiday tradition,” Witaske said.
Note from organizers
The St. Charles Business Alliance has identified Facebook events circulating online with incorrect information about the upcoming St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and Holiday Homecoming.
All the Holiday Homecoming events are free and don’t require a ticket. There are no vendor opportunities and there will not be a livestream of the parade. If the event states otherwise, then it is a fake event.
Stay up-to-date with the most accurate information regarding St. Charles Holiday Homecoming, follow and share the official Facebook Event page. Also, follow the St. Charles Business Alliance on Facebook and Instagram @stcalliance for more information.
The official city of St. Charles website also has event information at stcharlesil.gov.
The Presenting Sponsor for 2025 St. Charles Holiday Homecoming is St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Additional Sponsors include MKFM Law, Smile Haven Dental Studio, Solutions Networking Corporation, St. Charles Closets, Hotel Baker, Karas Restaurant Group, LawnBoyz Landscaping, McNally’s Heating & Cooling, Premier Living Real Estate, Mendel Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Trotter and Associates, Inc., Wahlburgers, Arcada Theatre, Comcast, McGrath Honda of St. Charles, Simple EJ’s Kitchen & Tap, Dr. Ghaderi of St. Charles Plastic Surgery, Theriault Booth LLC. Attorneys at Law, Garrett Popcorn, and Heinz Brothers Greenhouse Garden Center.
To find more information on 2025 St. Charles Holiday Homecoming, and the 25th annual Electric Christmas Parade, visit www.stcharlesholidayhomecoming.com. For inquiries, contact the St. Charles Business Alliance at (630) 443-3967.