Greetings Everyone! Tis the Season! FOLEPI is back and ready for a great holiday season! FOLEPI is my name, and it’s also an acronym for Festival of Lights, East Peoria, Illinois. I am the wooden toy soldier mascot for our World-Famous Festival of Lights!
I have a very important job – to officially bring the Christmas Season to town by marching and leading our iconic Parade of Lights! Our 41 st Annual Parade will take place on Saturday, November 22 at 6:30pm. Our incredible fully-illuminated floats will navigate the streets of East Peoria and will officially bring the season to town! Watch for me! I’ll be the toy soldier in a red suit at the front of the Parade! (And another guy in a red suit will be at the end of the Parade!)
This year’s parade will include 41 floats of all shapes, sizes, and colors! From Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to the Duck and Ducklings. From the Chopper motorcycle to the 160-foot-long Steam Engine Train. From the 70-foot-long float of the famous Clydesdale horses to the 95-foot-long smoke-spewing Chinese dragon. And the USS East Peoria (of Star Trek fame) returns to our galaxy after a 3-year hiatus somewhere in the Milky Way. There’s something for everyone in our amazing Parade of Lights!
Brief History of the Festival of Lights
41 years ago, this tradition was born on the streets of East Peoria. The Festival has grown bigger and better and brighter every year since! Over a million sparkling and twinkling lights will illuminate the town! These stunning lights have dazzled the eyes of guests from all around the globe! Visitors travel from near and far to join us for this wonderful family tradition – the East Peoria Festival of Lights. In 2020, the Festival of Lights won the Heavyweight Championship on ABC TV’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight”. For 4 years, the Festival of Lights was selected as one of the Top 100 North American Events by the American Bus Association.
make the most of your Parade experience:
1. Parade Route: The parade begins at the intersection of Washington Street and Dolans Lane. It travels along Washington Street, passing East Peoria Community High School, and continues toward the intersection of Washington and Camp Street. The parade will cross the railroad tracks and continue along Washington Street, then turn onto Taylor Street and will pass Central Junior High School. It concludes at the intersection of Taylor Street and Springfield Road.
2. Parking: Free Parking is available at the FonDuLac Park District Administration Building, Central Junior High School, and East Peoria Community High School. Additional parking is available on side streets along the parade route.
3. Handicapped Parking: Handicapped parking is available along Taylor Street in areas designated with handicap signage. Vehicles must have a handicap sticker, license plate, or dash card. This parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. Timing: The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. The streets along the parade route will close to traffic after 6 p.m.
5. Where to Watch: Great viewing can be found anywhere along the route. Many people bring lawn chairs and blankets to bundle up. But be sure to arrive early for a prime spot. I'm looking forward to seeing you along the Parade Route!
6. Are you unable to attend the Parade in person? Don’t worry! We are happy to announce that You can watch the parade from the comfort of your home. The 40th Anniversary Parade will be broadcast LIVE at 6:30 p.m., exclusively on WMBD-TV. And for your out-of-town family and friends, they can livestream the Parade on www.CIPROUD.com.
After the Parade, our amazing floats will be transported to FOLEPI’s Winter Wonderland! This Drive-Through Electric Park is our Signature Festival Experience. Atop Springfield Road in VFW Park in East Peoria, you will find our floats and many other lighted displays decorated throughout the Drive-Through Park.
Highlights of Winter Wonderland
FOLEPI’s Winter Wonderland runs from November 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10 for regular vehicles.
FOLEPI’s PRO-TIP: The wait times on Friday and Saturday nights can get quite long, especially the closer we get to Christmas. Please plan accordingly and be sure to bring car games and snacks. Plan your bathroom breaks as well. There is a port-a-potty at the Winter Wonderland entrance.
FOLEPI’s PRO-TIP: Visit the Winter Wonderland Sunday through Thursday! The lines will be shorter, and visitors will receive a special coupon as a treat!
- Sunday: Culver’s
- Monday: Chick-Fil-A
- Wednesday: Elevate Trampoline Park
- Thursday: Dairy Queen
- And on Tuesdays, Santa will be there! Kids can drop off their letters to Santa upon arriving at the
entrance to Winter Wonderland!
There is much to see and do during our 41 st Annual East Peoria Festival of Lights! As you drive throughout East Peoria this holiday season, keep your eyes open for the Festival Wreath, the Henricks Star, FOLEPI’s Enchanted Forest, and the Narrated Nativity! On our website (www.folepi.org), you can learn about our special events (including Breakfast with Santa, FOLEPI’s Shop & Stroll, and so much more!). I can’t wait to see you soon! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
-FOLEPI
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