City’s Official Song Has Spot in Holiday Homecoming

Source: Downtown St. Charles Partnership

St. Charles kicks off the yuletide season with its annual Holiday Homecoming this weekend, which will feature something new: A performance of the city’s new officials song, “In St. Charles.”

The Holiday Homecoming is Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30 in downtown St. Charles.

The Lighting of the Lights ceremony, sleigh rides, visits with Santa, a holiday movie, and the Electric Christmas Parade, which recognizes the 100-year anniversary of St. Charles Boy Scout Troop One.

Lighting of the Lights

Lighting of the Lights is sponsored by Insurance through AAA and will feature music by the St. Charles East and North High School Chorales, the new official St. Charles city song, singing by youth from Steel Beam Theatre, and Mayor Raymond Rogina will officially flip the switch to illuminate the city for the first time this season.

Musician and composer Jim Masters is returning to St. Charles to give the first public performance of a song that he wrote and gave to his hometown.

The City Council recently designated “In St. Charles” as the city’s official song.

It will be performed during the Lighting of the Lights ceremony.

The Lighting of the Lights ceremony also features music by students from both St. Charles North and East high schools’ chorales. The  students also will provide choral background for Masters, while the composer’s sister Barbara, who teaches at Elmhurst College, will accompany him on the keyboard.

The song celebrates the warmth and fellowship that Masters remembered growing up in the community. The lilting, singable chorus recalls the “sense of community / friendship and unity / & neighbors on every street.”

A highlight of the evening will come when all the townspeople in attendance join in singing this chorus together and then witness the lighting of the city’s Holiday Tree.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are also scheduled to make their first visit to the 1st Street Plaza Santa House at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Electric Christmas Parade

The Electric Christmas Parade will feature nearly fifty lighted elements from cars, to motorcycles, and floats by community businesses and non-profit organizations. The Parade features Boy Scout Troop One as this year’s Grand Marshal in honor of their 100 year anniversary. The Parade will also showcase Miss Illinois 2013, Brittany Smith, who recently competed in the Miss America competition.

Two-Day Schedule of Activities

Friday, November 29, 2013

• 5 p.m. — Lighting of the Lights on the 1st Street Plaza.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

• 10:30 a.m. — Free Holiday Movie at the Arcada Theatre: “The Polar Express.”

• 1 to 3:30 p.m. — Free horse-drawn sleigh rides on First St. Plaza.

All Holiday Homecoming events and activities are free of charge.

Toys for Kids Collection

A community initiative, the Toys for Kids program, now in its 30th year, collects toys which are then given to The Salvation Army for distribution to needy boys and girls in the Tri-Cities area. Holiday Homecoming sponsor STC Capital Bank is one of the drop-off location in St. Charles. Additional downtown locations include Pottawatomie Community Center, Baker Community Center, St. Charles Municipal Building, the Arcada Theatre, and Dick Pond Athletics. In addition, the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club will have a Toys for Kids float in the parade.

Sponsors

Holiday Homecoming sponsors include:  Gold - BMO Harris Bank (Movie); Insurance through AAA (Lighting of the Lights); Kane County Chronicle (Santa House); Onesti Entertainment (Movie); STC Capital Bank (Santa Float); St. Charles Bank and Trust (Sleigh Rides); Silver -  AHC Advisors, Inc. (Tug Boat); Delnor Express Care (Train Engine); Minuteman Press; and Bronze - Advanced Disposal (North HS Band); Autopractor, Inc. (Kane County Mounted Rangers); McGrath Honda (Miss Illinois); McNally’s Irish Pub (Silver Knights Baton Twirlers); Spare Wheels Transportation (Aurora Area Shrine Club); and The PrivateBank (East HS Band).

More Information

Downtown St. Charles is home to a variety of shopping, dining, recreation, business services, and entertainment. For more information, please visit www.DowntownStCharles.org/Holidays or call the Downtown St. Charles Partnership office at 630-443-3967.

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