East Peoria Festival of Lights
Spectators watch an illuminated nighttime procession featuring 42 floats shaped by bright, colorful LED lights. Highlights include a 95-foot smoke-spewing Chinese dragon, a 70-foot Clydesdale horse team, a 160-foot steam engine train, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and the USS East Peoria. Float speakers broadcast commercial-free holiday music that visitors can also listen to directly on their radios along the two-mile route.
What to Expect
Features 42 floats illuminated by bright, colorful LED lights.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Folepi
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and holiday parade fans
Vibe
Festive and colorful
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
High
Location
Know Before You Go
- Hours: 6:30 p.m.
Tips & Advice
- Get to your spot before the roads close, since the whole route shuts down to traffic ahead of the parade.
- Tune your car radio to Mix 106.9 so you can hear the parade music even if you watch from inside your vehicle.
- Download the parade route map ahead of time so you can pick a spot along East Washington Street or Taylor Street.
- Dress warmly, because this is an evening parade in late November and you'll be outside for the whole route.
- Tag Folepi when you post your parade photos on Facebook or Instagram, because the festival wants to see them.
Special Events & Promotions
- The USS East Peoria float returns for the first time in three years
- New start time this year because of the live WMBD-TV broadcast
- Mix 106.9 is the official parade music provider, playing commercial-free holiday music during the parade
- Live broadcast on WMBD-TV, plus a livestream on CIPROUD.com
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which floats will be in the parade?
There are 42 LED-lit floats. They include a 70-foot Clydesdale team pulling a delivery wagon, a 95-foot smoke-spewing Chinese dragon, a chopper motorcycle, Rudolph, the Duck and Ducklings, a 160-foot steam engine train, and the USS East Peoria.
Where is the best place to watch?
You can spread out anywhere along the roughly two-mile route, which mostly follows East Washington Street and Taylor Street. It starts at East Washington and Dolans Lane by AutoZone and ends at Taylor Street and Springfield Road at the U.S. Post Office.
Is there music during the parade?
Yes. Speakers on the floats are tuned to Mix 106.9, which plays commercial-free holiday music during the parade. You can also listen on your car radio.
Can I watch from home?
Yes. WMBD-TV broadcasts the parade live, and there's a livestream on CIPROUD.com.
Will roads be closed?
Yes. Roads along the route close fully before the parade starts and reopen to regular traffic after it ends.
More Christmas Events Near East Peoria
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
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