WHAT A BRIGHT TIME

BrightWHAT A TIME It’s the right time for holiday Story by Mike Murphy Photos by Scott Anderson parades, which again see the light and Tom Sistak of day after last year’s cancellations

Parade lovers suffered last year as Starved Rock Country holiday parades were diminished or even canceled due to COVID-19, but such events are making a comeback this year. The days following Thanksgiving will feature lighted parades, both on downtown streets and in subdivisions. Here’s what’s in store as the holidays kick off.

Marseilles Holiday Magic parade LA SALLE

Beginning Nov. 15, motorists can drive through Rotary Park for the annual Celebration of Lights, featuring hundreds of illuminated displays.

Hours will be 5-9 p.m. weekdays and Sundays as well as 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and the week of the Christmas holiday. The celebration also will be open to traffic 5-9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Downtown La Salle will showcase its Miracle on First Street event Dec. 4. It will be connected to the city’s Christkindlmarket.

Learn more about La Salle’s Christkindlmarket and Ottawa’s Chris Kringle Market on P. 38!

MARSEILLES

“Holiday Magic,” a lighted parade, will begin Dec. 4 and will be open to all businesses, groups and individuals. You can line up beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Illinois Valley Cellular building.

“Light Up Knudson Park” will feature the city’s downtown park lit up and be open to viewing for pedestrians and motorists. MORRIS

Three days of activities will make up the city’s Home for the Holidays celebration, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 26-28.

The annual Lighted Holiday Parade will begin 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, running on Liberty Street to the Grundy County Courthouse to Chapin Park. Chapin Park will be lit at 6 p.m., and children can visit with Santa Claus from 6 to 7 p.m.

Friday features also will include carriage rides and craft making. A Christmas house walk will highlight Saturday activities along with a visit by Santa and his reindeer on the courthouse lawn.

OTTAWA

Lights will be in the sky as well as on floats Nov. 26 during the city’s Festival of Lights.

The annual parade will step off 6 p.m. at Washington Square downtown and proceed south on La Salle Street to the Jordan block, where a large Christmas tree will be lit. Santa Claus once again will conclude the parade and take residence in his Jordan block house, which previously had been located in Washington Square.

Once the parade concludes, the tree will be lit and fireworks will be shot off from Ottawa High School. The big tree and pyrotechnics were introduced at last year’s fest.

“Things will be changed, but we’re doing what we can to make it great,” says Wayne Eichelkraut, city of Ottawa finance commissioner. He notes last year’s parade was called off due to the pandemic.

Washington Square once again will be festooned with lights, and parks throughout Ottawa also will offer lights displays. The annual Chris Kringle Market will begin Nov. 26 and run through much of December.

“We’ll have a lot of things going on and a lot of people involved,” Eichelkraut says.

Also in Ottawa, Reddick Mansion will present candlelight tours, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10. The evenings will feature the 19th-century home decorated in Victorian-era finery, including multiple Christmas trees, talks by costumed docents and other displays spread over three floors. Admission will be $10.

PERU

After a one-year absence, the city’s lighted parade will return Dec. 4. The parade will begin and end at Washington Park.

When the parade concludes, Santa Claus will be in attendance at one of the park shelters, where his workshop activities will include refreshments, crafts and distribution of gifts.

PRINCETON

The city’s annual Christmas Walk will take place Friday through Sunday, Nov. 19-21, featuring specials, window decorations by local businesses and a craft fair.

Lighting of Princeton’s community Christmas tree will be 6-7 p.m. Dec. 3 in Veterans Park. It will be followed by a kids’ candy cane hunt in Soldiers and Sailors Park.

On Dec. 4, an 11 a.m. holiday 5K run, Christmas parade and breakfast with Santa will be highlighted. The Main Street parade will begin at 1 p.m., followed by children’s activities at Bureau County Fairgrounds.

Motorists can view the annual Home for the Holidays lights show, 5-9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays beginning Dec. 4 at the fairgrounds. The lights display will conclude New Year’s Day.

Princeton Christmas Walk SPRING VALLEY

The 2020 holiday parade was halted by COVID-19, but will return this year, beginning 6 p.m. Nov. 27 on St. Paul Street.

“We’re excited to have it back, and we want people to enjoy the parade,” says Melanie Malooley Thompson, mayor of Spring Valley.

“Whoville” will be the theme of this year’s parade, which will be open to individuals, groups and businesses. It will conclude with the lighting of the community Christmas trees. Live entertainment and refreshments are also scheduled to be part of the fun.

The same day, Spring Valley merchants also will observe Small Business Saturday.

Wolfer’s Grove subdivision on Spring Valley’s northwest end will be the site of an elaborate lights and sound display at the home of William Quesse, 3 Hidden Grove Lane. Beginning Nov. 27, decorations will be on display 5-9 p.m.weeknights and often later on weekend evenings.

Greg Campbell, who lives across the street from Quesse, will present a traditional lights display at his house.

La Salle’s Celebration of LIghts at Rotary Park

STREATOR

With the pandemic grounding the annual Keeping Christmas Close to Home parade last year, organizers came up with a Light Up Streator drivearound event in which lighted floats were spread out all over the city.

“It was a great turnout,” says Jim

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENTS HIGHLIGHTED HERE AT THESE WEBSITES: • La Salle: www.facebook.com/LaSalleLights www.lasalle-il.gov • Marseilles: www.iracc.org • Morris: www.homefortheholidaysmorris.com • Ottawa: www.pickusottawail.com www.reddickmansion.org • Peru: www.peru.il.us • Princeton: www.princetonchamber-il.com • Spring Valley: www.spring-valley.il.us www.facebook.com/quesselights • Streator: www.streator.org • Utica: www.utica-il.gov

Pellino, a committee member. “We had cars backed up for miles. People wanted to get out and do something.”

Streator’s parade will return this year, beginning Nov. 27 in City Park. A countdown to light up the park will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the parade stepping off at Illinois Street to Main Street, Park Street, Kent Street and back to Illinois Street. Hot chocolate will be served, Clydesdaleesque grey thunder horses will be part of the parade, Christmas carols sung in the park and carriage rides offered.

Another committee member, Joe Richard, already has lit the park with fall decorations, and will present three new holiday displays for 2021.

“We always improve on what we’re doing,” he says.

Daytime activities will include a vendor fair in three different buildings. UTICA

Christmas in the Village, Nov. 27 and 28, will kick off with businesses participating in Small Business Saturday. Carriage rides and an indoor canal market will be featured both days.

Children’s activities and a visit from Santa Claus will take place Sunday at the village’s community center. The lighting of Utica’s Christmas tree will be staged at the corner of Mill and Church streets. C S R

Save the Date and join us Saturday, December 4th Lighted Parade 5 p.m.

Starts and Ends at Peru Washington Park with Santa! Light Up the Park Event to Follow!

Brought to you by CITY OF PERU and the PERU RECREATION BOARD www.peru.il.us