Thursday, November 29, 2012
Downtown St. Charles Partnership celebrates Holiday Homecoming success, says parade turnout is largest in recent history.
They were two nights to remember, officially kicking off the holiday season in St. Charles and culminating with the annual Electric Christmas Parade along Main Street. There was no question that crowds turned out for both events — especially the parade, which had more than 50 entries this year. Now, it’s official: The St. Charles Police Department estimates that more than 13,000 people turned out for Saturday’s parade, its best turnout in recent years and perhaps the best in its 20-year history. Downtown St. Charles Partnership trumpeted the number in a release issued Thursday. Marketing and Development Manager Scott Piner said the police department’s crowd estimate this year was greater than those of the previous three years. Prior to …
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Hundreds lines up along St. Charles’ Main Street for lights, music and more lights as the Holiday Homecoming 2012 kicks off the Christmas season.
If you happened to be strolling through downtown St. Charles at midafternoon Saturday, you might have noticed the lawn chairs that seemed to spring up out of nowhere and multiply like rabbits up and down the Main Street bridge. So begins the newcomers’ introduction to the Electric Christmas Parade, a spirited, colorful community welcome to the holiday season. People packed along the sidewalks on the north and south sides of Main Street before the start, breathing out oohs and ahs with the passing of each of the Christmas-light-adorned floats throughout the parade, which lasted a little more than a half hour. St. Charles Patch invites you to add your own photos and videos to this story to create a gallery of images from the Electric …
Saturday, November 24, 2012
The 5:30 p.m. Electric Christmas Parade culminates Small Business Saturday and continues the Holiday Homecoming, the official start of St. Charles’ holiday season.
The 2012 St. Charles Holiday Homecoming continues today and culminates in the Electric Christmas Parade, which steps off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Downtown visitors will be able to look at and buy Christmas trees along the east side of 1st Street, south of Route 64. Swans’ Christmas Trees will sell trees and garland throughout the holiday season in the downtown. Today is Small Business Saturday nationally, and the Downtown St. Charles Partnership has been encouraging residents to shop locally this holiday season. Saturday’s Holiday Homecoming activities continue with: All Holiday Homecoming events and activities are free of charge. The Electric Christmas Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with Downtown St. Charles …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Downtown St. Charles lit up for the holidays with Friday night's "Lighting of the Lights" ceremony in 1st Street Plaza. The Electric Christmas Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday as the Holiday Homecoming continues.
Downtown St. Charles is dressed up for the holidays as Mayor Donald DeWitte, accompanied by his great niece, flipped the switch to illuminate 1st Street Plaza beneath hundreds of twinkling lights adorning the trees. Santa arrived with Mrs. Claus moments later. “Good evening St. Charles, and let me be the first to with you all a Merry Christmas!” DeWitte trumpeted to the crowd, which responded with cheers and applause. “I’m so happy to be here for this outstanding St. Charles tradition. The city is filled with people with such great community spirit, which is why I can’t think of a better place to celebrate the start of the holiday season than right here in St. Charles.” DeWitte applauded the members of the chorales from St. Charles North …
Lighting of the Lights is Friday, and the Electric Christmas Parade culminates Small Business Saturday as St. Charles marks the official start of its holiday season.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Lighting of the Lights is Friday, and the Electric Christmas Parade culminates Small Business Saturday as St. Charles marks the official start of its holiday season.
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership ushers in the Christmas season this week with the Holiday Homecoming — a two-day celebration that includes the Lighting of the Lights on Friday evening, Nov. 23, 2012, and the Electric Christmas Parade on Saturday night, Nov. 24, 2012. New to the Holiday Homecoming this year is a Christmas tree lot, which will be set up along the east side of 1st Street, south of Route 64. Swans’ Christmas Trees has been selling trees in the area for many years and will sell trees and garland throughout the holiday season in the downtown. Also new to the Holiday Homecoming is a free holiday movie Home Alone at 2 p.m. Friday at the Arcada Theatre’s big screen. The Lighting of the Lights ceremony is scheduled at 5 p.m. …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
This year’s Lighting of the Lights and Electric Christmas Parade will mark the 20-year anniversary of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership.
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 …
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The annual event will feature the Lighting of the Lights on Friday, Nov., 23, and the Electric Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 24. A host of free activities round out the weekend.
- NEWS
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Saturday, November 3, 2012
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership announces the schedule and activities for this year’s Holiday Homecoming on Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24, in downtown St. Charles to celebrate the official kickoff to the holiday season. Holiday Homecoming features the Lighting of the Lights ceremony, sponsored by AAA Insurance, at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, in the First Street Plaza, and the Electric Christmas Parade, sponsored by Fox Valley Auto Group, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. New this year is a Christmas Tree Lot that will sell trees beginning Friday, Nov. 23, along the east side of 1st Street. Swans’ Christmas Trees have been selling trees in the area for many years and will add to the festivities downtown, selling trees and garland …
Monday, October 8, 2012
Downtown St. Charles Partnership is gearing up for the 2012 Holiday Homecoming.
- BUSINESS
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Monday, October 8, 2012
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership is accepting parade entry forms until Oct. 26 for businesses and organizations wanting to participate in the annual Electric Christmas Parade. According to a Downtown St. Charles Partnership release, more than 10,000 people line the downtown streets in St. Charles each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the annual Electric Christmas Parade, which is part of the two-day Holiday Homecoming. This year’s parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. The Holiday Homecoming event starts Friday, Nov. 23, with Lighting of the Lights in the 1st Street Plaza. Then, on Saturday, Nov. 24, the event features the Electric Christmas Parade, Movies at the Arcada Theatre, Sleigh Rides, and Visits with Santa…
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Downtown St. Charles Partnership announces Craig Larsen of AHC Advisors as chairman for Holiday Homecoming 2012.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Ted Schnell
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
It’s beginning to look a lot like … fall, actually, but the planning already already has begun for St. Charles’ annual Holiday Homecoming. The Downtown St. Charles Partnership this week announced its initial plans for Holiday Homecoming 2012 and that Craig Larson, founder and president of AHC Advisors Inc., will serve in the volunteer role as chairman. The announcement came just days after the St. Charles City Council’s Government Service Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of a resolution for the closure of Routes 64 and 31 on Nov. 24, 2012, to accommodate the Electric Christmas Parade, a centerpiece of the holiday event. According to a release from the Downtown St. Charles Partnership, the Holiday Homecoming starts Friday, …
Scott Piner
8:34 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Lighting of the lights was fantastic tonight! And so was home alone at arcada! more ›