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East Peoria Festival of Lights to open

Posted November 20, 2007 10:00 pm

Danielle Hatch

A couple of weeks before East Peoria's Festival of Lights was to start, organizers were busy as elves pulling all the last-minute details together.

Randy Kellems of West Peoria was preparing to set up his mini Christmas village. The collection of more than 700 figurines, from houses to sweet shops to tiny popcorn makers, includes pieces that have been in his family since the 1960s.

Parade volunteers were readying to roll out a line of luminous floats, and the handlers of Prancer the reindeer were about to pack up her sweet feed and hay for the trip north from the St. Louis area.

Organizers of the festival, which kicks off its 23rd season with the Parade of Lights on Nov. 24, are especially excited about a new laser light show that will transport visitors to another galaxy.

"We've had great success with our indoor laser theater and we were trying to think of other things that we could do to incorporate lasers into the Festival of Lights," said Jill Peterson, public relations coordinator for the city of East Peoria. "In brainstorming we decided to move our space-themed parade float to the end of Winter Wonderland. We've got a bunch of arches that people will drive through, trying to simulate a black hole and having them arrive in a spaceport.

"Laser lights will be flashing and images projected onto the hillside, so you'll be initially driving above the lasers and then down and they'll be over the top of your car," Peterson said. "We think it'll be neat, we think people will really like it. Kids who are space buffs should really be amazed by it.

The Parade of Lights starts at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 24 and will begin at the intersection of East Washington Street and Dolans Lane and ends in the 200 block of West Washington Street. Handicapped parking is available along Taylor Street from East Peoria Autobody to Central Junior High School and in a city lot across from Fondulac District Library.

Peterson said visitors might notice the lights getting a little brighter this year, as they are starting to convert to LED bulbs. A new electric guitar float, complete with musical notes floating above, is done all in LED lights, she said.

Here are some other displays and events at the festival, which lasts through Dec. 31:

Folepi's Winter Wonderland: The nearly two-mile cruise through the Parade of Lights floats, animated displays and a laser light show will open Nov. 25. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 31. The wonderland will be closed on Christmas day. Admission is $10 for cars, $20 for limos, RVs and commercial vans. Party buses (more than 15 passengers) can get in for $50, and full-size buses are admitted for $150.

Folepi's Village: This free indoor carnival features a mini-passenger train and carousel and Kellems' Northwest Territory Christmas Village. Folepi's Village will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Nov. 25. For the rest of the festival, the hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The village will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Santa will mingle with the public each night from 5 to 9 p.m. starting Nov. 25 through Dec. 23. He'll also be present from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Folepi's Laser Theater: Holiday shows with laser lights and Christmas carols will take place at the Festival Building, 2200 E. Washington St. Shows are at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. daily from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

For more information about the Festival of Lights, visit CityofEastPeoria.com or call (800) 365-374

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