‘Light Up the Holidays’ festival returns to ring in holiday season

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One of the area’s favorite holiday traditions, the “Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade” celebrates its 12th year of kicking off the holiday season.

For the fifth consecutive year, the University of St. Francis will sponsor the Light Up the Holidays parade, which brings more than 25,000 people to Joliet’s City Center.

This year’s festival and parade are once again on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27 in downtown Joliet on historic Chicago Street.

The many holiday activities focus on free and low-cost family fun. A traditional highlight is the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:15 p.m. at Van Buren Plaza, when Joliet Mayor, Art Schultz and University of St. Francis President, Michael Vinciguerra turn on the Christmas tree and sparkling lights line the streets.

The 12th annual Light Up the Holidays Parade, presented by the University of St. Francis, begins at 5:30 p.m. This year, Bernie, the university’s Saint Bernard mascot, will be grand marshal; he will be joined by dogs rescued through Illinois Saint Bernard Rescue and their new families, along with USF students, alumni, employees and friends.

The parade begins at the Will County Building at Jackson and Chicago streets, runs south on Chicago Street to Jefferson Street, then east to Scott Street.

Downtown Joliet is filled with free and low-cost holiday fun open to the public, including:

• Holiday JAHM will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Joliet Area Historical Museum. For museum information, call (815) 723-5201 or visit www.jolietmuseum.org.

• Joliet Junior College Culinary Arts students will create holiday ice sculptures in front of the Joliet Area Historical Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Fantastic Fun Fair at the Joliet Junior College Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St. is from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spend hours at the Joliet Park District holiday-themed carnival; crafts, games and prizes too!

• Brunch with Santa Claus at the Joliet Junior College Renaissance Center is from 10 a.m.  to 2 p.m.  Rousing, fun-filled activities include games, free giveaways and much more. Call for reservations 815/280-1404.

• “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t” will be presented at 3 p.m. at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. Admission is free to this performance by the Child’s Play Touring Theatre.

• The new 3 p.m. movie at the Rialto Square Theatre is “Happy Feet.” Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children (as part of the Festival of Trees).

• The 7 p.m. movie is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at the Rialto Square Theatre. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children (as part of the Festival of Trees).

The Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade is sponsored by the University of St. Francis, Joliet City Center Partnership, The Joliet Visitors’ Bureau, Harris Bank, Mygofer and Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.


 

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