Winners of St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and Holiday Tree Trail announced
The annual St. Charles Holiday Homecoming took place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26-27 downtown.
The two-day event featured the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony, the Holiday Tree Trial, visits with Santa, a free holiday movie at the Arcada Theatre, and the Electric Christmas Parade, which featured Steve Martin as the grand marshal.
This year saw a record attendance during the Lighting of the Lights ceremony on First Street Plaza.
Friday also commenced the kickoff to the Holiday Tree Trail display and contest, featuring 50 decorated trees displayed along First Street and the river front walkway.
Saturday was lined up with even more family-friendly events presented by the St. Charles Business Alliance and their sponsors.
The day culminated with the Electric Christmas Parade with approximately 25,000 locals and visitors alike crowded along Main Street to witness 54 holiday-themed entries dazzle and gleam on the parade route.
Parade entries were judged by a panel of judges, who selected winners in three categories: business, nonprofit, and children, with an overall winner.
The 2021 Electric Christmas Parade winners are as follows:
• Best of Show: Ozinga
• Children's Showcase: first place, D2 Performing Company; second place, Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois; and third place, 3rd Street Dance & Theatre Academy Inc.
• Nonprofit Showcase: first place, Tiny N Tall Rescue inc.; second place, Mission 22; and third place, Lazarus House
• Business Showcase: first place, Garage 31; second place, Fox Town Plumbing Inc.; and third place, Guida's Landscaping Inc.
The 2021 Holiday Tree Trail winners are as follows: first place, Lord of Life Church preschool-Elburn; second place, Lincoln Elementary School in St. Charles; and third place, Mortgage Gal Danielle.
To view more Holiday Homecoming photos, visit www.stcholidayhomecoming.com, or visit the St. Charles Business Alliance's social media pages.
The Electric Christmas Parade is sponsored by St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Platinum level sponsors include Audi Exchange, The PRIDE Stores and @Properties, and Gold level sponsors include Fox Valley Auto Group, McNally's Heating and Cooling, Premier Living Properties, Trotter and Associates, Christ Community Church, 93 Octane Brewery and McGrath Honda in St. Charles.
The mission of the St. Charles Business Alliance is to drive economic growth to make the St. Charles Community a destination where people, businesses and tourism thrive. The Alliance produces the St. Charles Fine Art Show, Holiday Homecoming, Jazz Weekend, Scarecrow Festival and the St. Patrick's Parade. For more information about the Alliance, visit www.stcalliance.org.