Grand Marshals Named for Holiday Homecoming 2012

The four founders of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership will serve as grand marshals of this year’s Electric Christmas Parade, part of the Holiday Homecoming that ushers in the city’s holiday season.

The Downtown St. Charles Partnership on Tuesday announced that Jack Wagner, Jim Martin, Sharon Oie, and Dave Lencioni would serve as grand marshals for the parade. In the same release, the organization also provided more details about the parade and laid out the schedule of activities for Holiday Homecoming 2012 on Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24.

Scheduled at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, the Lighting of the Lights ceremony will be in the First Street Plaza and will be led by Mayor Donald DeWitte according to the release, which also notes special appearances by the St. Charles North and East High School Chorales, and Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The Electric Christmas Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24.

The four grand marshals were chosen as the Downtown St. Charles Partnership marks its 20th anniversary, the release states. Wagner, Martin, Oie and Lencioni helped form the Downtown St. Charles Partnership in 1992 out of recognition of a need for the revitalization of downtown St. Charles. Today, the release states, the Downtown St. Charles Partnership continues its mission to revitalize the downtown, offering business support and education, marketing and promotions activities, and support of downtown events.

The Electric Christmas Parade also will feature Miss Illinois, as well as lighted entries by many local organizations including the Boy Scouts, the Filling Station, and the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary.

New to the Holiday Homecoming this year is a Christmas tree lot, which will sell trees along the east side of 1st Street south of Route 64. Swans’ Christmas Trees have been selling trees in the area for many years and will add to the festivities downtown, selling trees and garland throughout the holiday season.

Also new is a free holiday movie at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, when the classic, family favorite Home Alone will be shown on the Arcada Theatre’s big screen, and a showing of The Polar Express at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24.

Also planned are horse-drawn sleigh rides from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, beginning at the 1st Street Plaza; and visits with Santa from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23 in the First Street Plaza Santa House.

All Holiday Homecoming events and activities are free of charge.

For more information on Holiday Homecoming events, sponsorship, parade entry, and more visit www.DowntownStCharles.org/Holidays or call the Downtown St. Charles Partnership office at 630-443-3967.