Celebrating the Holidays in Style

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From a flotilla of floating floats to a train to an oversized sleigh, Santa Claus has been arriving in Peoria in grand fashion for 125 years. He doesn't look like he's aged a bit.

The annual Peoria Santa Claus Parade, which has the distinction of being the oldest continuously running Santa Claus parade in the United States, is one of the top ways in which the Peoria region rings in the holiday season.

But it isn't the only one, by any means. Most communities in central Illinois celebrate the season in some fashion or another, usually for the benefit of their citizens and retailers. It can be with a parade, a Christmas stroll, caroling or other special events that celebrate the holidays for one and all.

The Peorian is taking a look at some of those celebrations in this issue in hopes that our readers enjoy the season.

HO! HO! HO! PEORIA!
Few people today realize that the first Santa Claus Parade in Peoria was actually on the Illinois River. Floats were boats, so to speak, and they went by in a line in front of crowds lining the river banks. It was 1887; Santa made his first appearance at the end of the parade the following year.

In subsequent years some of the city's largest retail department stores sponsored the parades, first on the river and later on city streets, and they were known for extravagant floats, circus wagons and animals such as live reindeer and even fireworks.

There was a long period of time that Santa arrived in Peoria on a train, then he climbed a fire escape to reach his workshop on the upper floor of one of those department stores. There also was a time that fireworks were set off from the roof of a downtown store to signal the start of the parade.

The city can be proud of its tradition and the fact it has never let the parade become less than spectacular, said Susie Stockman, in her 25th year as chair of the parade and her sixth year as Mrs. Claus. The parade is presented by Peoria Area Community Events (PACE).

"We do have a lot of pride in our presentation to the public. Because of that we always try to make sure the floats look good and we will repair and replace them as needed. We want to make it better every year," Stockman said.

She noted that in 1995 all the floats were refurbished or replaced because many were starting to look worn. "We didn't want to be embarrassed by how they looked," she said.

Another source of pride is the fact there never has been a time the parade did not happen. Even one year when a severe ice storm socked the Peoria area and horses were unable to be out on the streets and most people had difficulty walking, the parade went off as scheduled, Stockman said.

"It was awful, awful weather. But we went on. It was shorter and a lot of attractions couldn't go but the parade happened," she said.

Another year, when the floats were all stored at Expo Gardens, they were vandalized and many rendered incapable of being used. "But the community came together and worked to get those floats fixed so they could be used and the parade went on. So you see, the whole community takes pride in our parade. It's a special event," Stockman said.

What one can expect to see in the parade is a myriad of themed floats, costumed characters from among the Disney and cartoon favorites, several high school bands and horse units. Altogether there will be 88 units in this year's parade, culminating in the arrival of the Clauses in a sleigh.

There also will be some new floats, including one sponsored by the Par-A-Dice that has the film The Christmas Story as its theme. "That one should be a lot of fun, with the leg lamp and the pink bunny pajamas and even somebody stuck to a pole with their tongue," Stockman said.

A highlight of the parade are the awards presented annually for Best Commercial Float, won last year by South Side Bank; Best Non-Profit Float, won in 2011 by the Peoria Park District; Best Novelty Entry won last year by the Frakes family, and Best New Entry, captured by Hair Cuttery.

There also are awards presented to the various bands for music, showmanship and marching.

This year the parade steps off on Nov. 23, as usual the Friday after Thanksgiving, at 10:15 a.m. It will be televised again, as it has been every year since 1958.

The same evening is when another event occurs.

Yule Like Peoria, which is growing in popularity each year, begins at 6 p.m. in downtown Peoria and goes until 9 p.m.

It starts with the annual Courthouse Tree Lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. in the Courthouse Plaza and is followed by a stroll to different downtown commercial buildings to view their decorations and various forms of entertainment and refreshments.

There also is an ice carving contest at Courthouse Plaza and appearances by some costumed characters. This year a new venue will get involved when the new Peoria Riverfront Museum, which opens Oct. 20, opens and offers entertainment.

There is no charge to attend Yule Like Peoria.

Other holiday events in Peoria include:

The Seventh Annual Holiday Walk at Junction City from 4 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 2. Festivities will include pictures with Santa, carriage rides, lives music and treats at the center's unique shops.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will present "The Lost Christmas Eve" in a concert at the Peoria Civic Center on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Metro Centre will host its annual Holiday Open House at its various stores on Nov. 16 and 17.

Corn Stock Theatre kids' theatre will present "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" on Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 7 and 8 at the theatre's Winter Playhouse.

Peoria Players Theatre will present "A Christmas Carol The Musical" Dec. 7 through 9 and Dec. 12 through 16.

The Peoria Ballet will present its annual showing of "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 8 and 9 at the Peoria Civic Center.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra presents its "Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza" at the Peoria Civic Center on Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The Peoria Area Civic Chorale will present "An American Family Christmas" Dec. 14-16 at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points in Washington.

The 65th Annual Peoria Journal Star Christmas Sing will be in the grand foyer of the Peoria Civic Center in late December.

LIGHTS AND MORE LIGHTS!
For more than a quarter of a century, central Illinois residents could line the streets of Peoria the Friday morning after Thanksgiving for the annual Peoria Santa Claus Parade, then do it again the next night for the annual Festival of Lights Parade in East Peoria.

No more.

Oh, the Festival of Lights Parade will still occur for the 27th consecutive year, but organizers decided this year to move the parade up a week, to Nov. 17, the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. It starts at 5:45 p.m.

The Festival of Lights Parade is one of the largest nighttime, illuminated parades in the country. About 20 lighted floats traverse the town, mixing traditional such as old locomotives and sleighs with futuristic such as the U.S.S. Enterprise of Star Trek fame and many themes in between, the parade with hundreds of thousands of lights is only the start of big holiday doings in East Peoria.

In fact, said Rick Swan, president of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce, that's the chief reason the parade was moved up a week.

"We wanted to be able to get things started a little earlier to capitalize on those people who come to the area for the Thanksgiving holiday. By moving the parade up a week we can start Winter Wonderland on Thanksgiving night," Swan said.

Folepi's Winter Wonderland, which has become enormously popular, will open Nov. 22, Thanksgiving Day, at 5 p.m. It will remain open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The last night will be Dec. 31.

Winter Wonderland is a two-mile drive through an electric park at the top of Springfield Road featuring all of the floats from the Festival of Lights Parade, past floats and a myriad of other lighted attractions that people slowly pass through with their car lights turned off for maximum effect.

Among the most popular attractions are those where reindeer seem to leap in an arc over the road while skiers seems to fly downhill from the upper part of the park to the lower road.

"Because we need several days after the parade to get Winter Wonderland ready, those people who come to the area for Thanksgiving don't get the opportunity to see Winter Wonderland. This way, when they are sitting around after the big Thanksgiving meal wondering what to do, they can get in the car and come see it," Swan said.

Winter Wonderland is a major fundraiser for FOLEPI, helping the organization keep the lights flickering every year, he said. So getting more people through it helps the city, which doesn't keep profits from Winter Wonderland; rather, it invests money back into it to try and make it bigger and better every year, he added.

"It's like anything else, you have to pay for it. And we've done a good job of getting sponsorships to help with the costs and with reducing our costs so that it is self-sufficient," Swan said.

Cars and family vans are charged $10 each to drive through while buses are charged more. "We think for $10 a carload, it's a good bargain. People love it," he said.

Other holiday-related events in East Peoria include:

The 24-hour narrated Nativity Scene at the corner of Taylor and Springfield Roads. The narration last two minutes as you drive slowly past the scenes of the Nativity.

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," Nov. 30 through Dec. 9 at Eastlight Theatre.

WALKIN' IN WASHINGTON
Washington has something not many other communities can boast: A town square that is the hub of much activity in the Tazewell County community a few miles east of Peoria.

That's why the Candlelight Stroll each year takes place on the square from 6 to 9 p.m. and features the lighting of the community Christmas tree preceded by the community Christmas Sing. This year the event is Dec. 6 and the Christmas sing starts at 6:30 p.m. The tree lighting is at 7:15 p.m.

The Washington Specialty Shops will be open until 9 p.m., carriage rides will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. and Santa will be at Denhart's Washington Room from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Candlelight Stroll is an important event for Washington as a community, said Chevie Ruder, executive director of the Washington Chamber of Commerce. "It really brings out the whole community and has that old-time feel to it to have people gather around the square when the mayor lights the Christmas tree on what is normally a chilly, crisp evening," she said.

"I guess you could say it takes us back to our small-town roots."

Again this year, a mailbox will be set up outside Denhart's so children can mail their letters to Santa Claus. Those with self-addressed, stamped envelopes will receive a reply from Santa.

"It's an important event for our merchants, also, because it marks the beginning of their holiday shopping season and staying open later," Ruder said.

Another popular event in Washington is the Historical Society's Christmas Home Tour, scheduled for Dec. 11. Five or six homes will be featured in the event that is a fund raiser for the Historical Society.

Ruder said there will be holiday events scheduled in Sunnyland, as well, though the details and dates were not set when The Peorian went to press.

MAKE IT THE HEIGHTS!
Taking the Christmas Walk celebration in Peoria Heights literally could tire a person out. It includes Peoria Heights merchants from War Memorial Drive up Prospect Road to Glen Avenue, with stores on all the side streets also involved.

But all those merchants are anxious to see customers on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. regardless of how they get their, said Pat Drake, president of the Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce.

"It is a long and enduring celebration that merchants and customers and the kids all look forward to every year," Drake said of the 32nd annual event. Stores in the Heights will have special deals that day while welcoming customers, she added.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will join Little Miss Duryea at Peoria Heights Flowers during the day and folks may choose to get around on carriage rides.

But that isn't the only thing happening in Peoria Heights that day, said Drake, who also is co-owner of Sassy Lady in Peoria Heights. At 4:45 p.m. a Christmas songfest will begin in Tower Park, followed an hour later by the annual Christmas tree lighting celebration.

"That is always a special event," she added.

A week later, on Dec. 8, an event unique to Peoria Heights, at least in central Illinois, will bring patrons back to the stores in the village. It's the annual Chocolate in the Heights event where participating stores have different types of chocolates to share with customers as well as different products, she said.

"Chocolate in the Heights is becoming increasingly popular every year. It's just a fun thing. I mean, you can run around all day shopping and eating chocolate. Who wouldn't love that?" she asked.

GETTING DAZZLED IN MORTON
In most places the holiday shopping season officially kicks off on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But in Morton, merchants get it started a couple weeks earlier.
The Holidazzle Community events are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, and they include open houses at most village merchants.

The weekend kicks off with the lighting of the community Christmas Tree of Dreams at 309 N. Main St. at 7 p.m. on Friday. It follows a chili supper at the Morton Community United church of Christ that begins at 4:30 p.m. and the arrival of Santa Claus at Morton Community Bank, 218 N. Main St. at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, the Fifth Annual Holidazzle weekend, presented by the Morton Tourism Association, will continue with merchant open houses and other events all day. There also will be a Christmas craft sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Morton United Methodist Church, 420 N. Tennessee Ave., and a Stop & Shop Open House from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Morton Community Church of Christ, 300 N. Main.

Village merchants will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of a "community wide Holiday Open House that will give you a chance to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list," the Tourism Association said.

In addition, Santa Claus will be at Pawsitively Pets from noon to 2 p.m. for photos with your favorite pet. Singsations will perform at the DQ parking lot at noon and high school students will perform in costume at Eli's at 11 a.m., The Red Barn at noon and Pumpkin Glass at 1p.m.

Field Shopping Center will feature a petting zoo, visits with Santa, Kid's Cookie decorating and other activities.

More details can be found at www.mortonmagnet.com or call 266-5135 with questions.

CANDLES WILL LIGHT DOWNTOWN PEKIN
Pekin's Winter Wonderland Parade has become an annual tradition that includes something you don't often see around Christmas: fireworks.

The parade, which this year is Sunday, Nov. 25, begins at 3:30 p.m. at 9th and Broadway and ends at Mineral Springs Park. About 5 p.m., fireworks are shot across the Lagoon, kicking off a season of events that continues through the holidays.

That day will have the dedication of Christmas trees in the park, with caroling and carriage rides and a visit from Santa Claus included. The following weekend in the Winter Wonderland Ballroom Dance and the Gingerbread House Workshop.

On Friday Nov. 30, more than 1,000 candlelight luminaries will give downtown Pekin "a warm, festive glow" from 5 to 8 p.m. during the annual Christmas on Court celebration and business open house, presented by Pekin Main Street.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will start at Pekin Community Bank, 601 Court St., for $1 a person and at Advanced Medical Transport, 418 Elizabeth Street. Santa Claus will welcome children inside Pekin Community Bank.

Visitors also will enjoy strolling carolers from area schools while visiting the area businesses that will be open for shopping and dining. Businesses will offer treats and refreshments, door prizes, entertainment, discounts, and promotions.

For more information visit www.pekinmainstreet.com and www.pekinwinterwonderland.com.

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