St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade set to return this holiday season

The Electric Christmas Parade is expected to once again light up the holiday season in St. Charles.

The pandemic forced the St. Charles Business Alliance to drop last year's parade and the traditional lighting of the lights ceremony was turned into a virtual event. But this year, both events are expected to return as part of the two-day Holiday Homecoming.

Holiday Homecoming kicks off the holiday season. At Monday's city council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved the St. Charles Business Alliance's request to hold the Lighting of the Lights event on Nov. 26 at the First Street Plaza in downtown St. Charles.

The request also includes closing First Street from 4 to 9 p.m. that day from the parking garage entrance to Main Street and the use of a loudspeaker system. Aldermen also approved a resolution that will be submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the closure of Routes 64 and 31 from 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 for the annual Electric Christmas parade.