East Peoria streamlines Festival of Lights

If there was any question about whether the East Peoria Festival of Lights tradition should continue, there's no doubt its future looks brighter than ever.

Dozens of parade vehicles and more than 100 electric generators all have been tuned up for the first time, the last incandescent lights upgraded to new LED lights and the parade, set for Saturday, streamlined.

This year, the Grinch and its 2,000 lights will debut as the newest float, the ever-popular skiers will return to Winter Wonderland, and plans are underway next year to possibly add a new 30-foot-long lighted float that may even attend other events to promote East Peoria's annual festival.

Organizers of the 27th anniversary of the holiday parade and light attractions say this year has seen a renewed surge in volunteerism - the electricity behind the lights.

"We're going to have what we believe to be a bigger, better festival, and hopefully, cheaper," says Dan Cunningham, director of the city's EastSide Centre as well as tourism, adding "... much of that is due to the volunteer help."

Volunteers have been busy spending hours attaching and checking lights, ensuring all systems are a go.

Retired East Peoria firefighter John Broshears has volunteered his time to coordinate which floats are in working order and those that need to be repaired.

"Some of them never had their oil changed, it's amazing they ran as long as they did," said Broshears.

He joins regulars Archie Lyons, Wally Jaquet and company, known by many as "the boys," and dozens of others, who since the beginning have been providing the inspiration, design and construction for new floats as well as upkeep of the old. They join several newcomers who have responded to the city's beckon.

Bogged down by a lack of volunteers, mechanical break-downs and overruns in costs, the city questioned residents earlier this year as to whether the Festival of Lights should continue.

"We sent out a request that we want to get the volunteers back into the parade - we've seen that. It's a community effort, it's community pride - it's always been that way. We want it to continue to be that way," said Rick Swan, executive director of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce.

This year a group of mechanics from Uftring Auto Group volunteered a Saturday to change oil, spark plugs and repair exhaust pipes, which Broshears said "without them, five floats would not have been in the parade."

The increase in volunteers, in combination with the more efficient LED lights, also has translated into lower costs. The city estimates spending about $240,000 this year. That's compared to about $400,000 last year and as much as $800,000 four and five years ago.

 Since 1984, East Peoria has put on one of the most popular holiday parades in the region. Borrowing the idea from Niagara Falls, the event annually draws thousands to the parade and thousands more who trek through Winter Wonderland, the static display in Veterans Park.

While the parade will show off 27 floats this year, all 42 floats will be on display in the Winter Wonderland.

"We're going to make that the main attraction this year," Cunningham said of Winter Wonderland, noting floats will not be scattered around the city, such as at the Festival Building and riverfront and other spots as in years past.