The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
| KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME
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Keeping Christmas Close to Home T T T T T Saturday, Nov. 30 ALL EVENTS ARE SATURDAY, NOV. 30
Hunter Jaegle, of Grand Ridge, waits for candy as he watches the 2018 lighted parade in downtown Streator. This year’s parade will begin at 7 p.m.
Several businesses are extending downtown hours before and after the parade.
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The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Model train display, Streator Incubator, 401 E. Bridge St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Holiday markets at Park Place, 406 E. Hickory St.; Bruce Township Hall, 216 N. Sterling St.; Streator Incubator, 401 W. Bridge St. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Screaming Eagles Toys for Tots, southwest corner of City Park. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Cruisin’ Concessions, Streator Incubator, 401 W. Bridge St. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Lunch by Park Church Relay Team at Park Place, 406 E. Hickory St. 3 p.m.: Holiday reading at Streator Public Library, 130 S. Park St. 5 to 9 p.m.: Food vendors Cruisin’ Concessions, Mr. J’s and Dig Doug’s BBQ, south side of City Park. 6:15 to 6:25 p.m.: Entertainment on Plumb Pavilion stage by The Lamplight Singers 6:30 p.m.: Lighting of the City Park by Light Up Streator 7 p.m.: Lighted parade 8 to 9:30 p.m.: Horse and carriage rides, southeast portion of City Park. $2 per person.
KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME |
chedule
The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
| KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME
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More than 50 vendors in 3 locations highlight
Holiday Markets The Times Staff As part of the Keeping Christmas Close To Home festivities Saturday, Nov. 30, vendor markets are planned during the day at Park Place, 406 E.
Hickory St.; Bruce Township Hall, 216 N. Sterling St.; and the Incubator, 401 W. Bridge St., in Streator. The Incubator also will have the model train display for an added bonus for children.
The holiday markets will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in all three locations and are co-hosted by the Park Church Relay Team and the Keeping Christmas Close to Home Committee. There will be more than 50 vendors
offering their wares. A listing of the various vendors and their locations will be available at the doors of the three locations, so it is important to plan stops at each to make sure you see all vendors.
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Continued from page 4
Meet Santa at Streator Post Office The Times Staff
Contributed
Children can drop off their letters to Santa at the Streator Post Office from Saturday, Nov. 30, to Saturday, Dec. 21.
The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Santa is coming to the Streator Post Office from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 30. He will be there to visit the post office at 221 E. Hickory St. and drop off his special mail bag for his Santa letters from children in the community. Santa will stay in the lobby for children to come and visit with him or to take pictures with him. The post office has a special Santa letter mailbox in the lobby for children to drop off their letters to Santa. The post office then put the letters in Santa’s special mail bag that goes directly to the North Pole. Make sure you put postage on your letter and your return address so you can receive a letter back from Santa! This mailbox for Santa letters will be in the Streator post office lobby from Nov. 30 until Saturday, Dec. 21. Letters in there after that may not get to the North Pole in time for Christmas.
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KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME |
Some of the items that will be offered are: pottery, blankets, rugs, purses/billfolds, jewelry, lotions and potions, candles, bake sale, Kringles, sweets, wood crafts, wood toys, greenery and floral items, vintage holiday decorations, aprons, Scentsy, Tastefully Simple, hair accessories, yard art, raffles, among other items. The day market dates back to 1998 when the Light Up Streator Committee sponsored the event to fill the park during the lighting of the other half of the park. Through the years, it was alternately moved to the Elks Club, the Masonic Temple and VFW hall. In 2003, the event moved to Park Place, a single-floor handicapped accessible building. Since then, the event has been at Park Place with various Park Church committees and/or the Park Church Relay for Life Team managing the market. “It has always been our goal to give the Streator-
land community a great opportunity to see the many talents of our area vendors all on one day and in one area,” said Karen Ranger, of Park Church Relay Team. “This gives people a great chance to do some early Christmas shopping and the ability to purchase handmade and unique gifts for the people on their list. Because the day is full of exciting and fun events, we are hoping to bring out many more people to enjoy what is being planned for all.” The Relay Team will be serving lunch items, such as barbecue, hot dogs, chips, soft drinks and water from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be food offered at the Incubator as well as offered by Cruisin’ Concessions. “It was incredible the amount of people who came out last year,” Ranger said. “We can only hope for the same impact. With the light up of our beautiful City Park and the Lighted Christmas Parade, I think it will just add to the festive spirit. We can all benefit from this community event.”
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Light Up Streator
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The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
ABC EXTERIORS
Lighted Parade
STREATOR COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Light Up Streator, the fifteenth anniversary of the lighting of the Christmas holiday decorations in the City Park, will be at 6:30 p.m
BALDWIN HOUSE
Vendors will be at Park Place, Bruce Township Hall, and the Streator Incubator (401 W. Bridge St) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Downtown Shopping - All Day Model Trains at the Streator Incubator (401 W. Bridge St) - 9 am to 7 pm Food Trucks - 5 to 9 pm at City Park Light Up Streator - 6:30 p.m. at City Park
EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS BEN HILTABRAND, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Lighted Parade - 7 p.m. Carriage & Rides 8 -9:30 p.m. at City Park
SCHULTZ BROS MONUMENTS
The day will feature Christmas toy drive, food, and a special visit by Santa.
MARIAS CRAFT CORNER
SHAW APPLIANCE
MORGANS BODY SHOP
WILD HEARTS BOUTIQUE
RICHARDS KENNEL
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RESERVES NETWORK STREATOR TIRE & REPAIR
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KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME | The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Kids Activites - All day - around downtown
The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
| KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME
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anta laus is oming
Jolly old elf highlights Streator’s lighted parade The Times Staff On Saturday, Nov. 30, Main Street in downtown Streator will be the setting for the annual Christmas parade. For the past few years, the Keeping Christmas Close to Home committee has held a festive lighted parade for all to enjoy. The parade starts at 7 p.m. at the corner of Illinois and Main streets and heads west down Main
Street, turning north at Park Street past City Park. The Boy Scout Troop 775 will lead the way followed by a six-person Color Guard from the Streator American Legion 217 and Streator VFW 1492 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 217. Streator Mayor Jimmie Lansford and his family will serve as honored guests, riding down Main Street in style in a horse and carriage.
Sit on Santa’s lap after the parade
After Santa goes down Main Street in his sleigh, he will be at the Santa house at the corner of Park and Hickory streets greeting children and asking them what they want for Christmas. If you miss Santa after the parade, he will return to his Streator house on the following dates and times: T 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 T 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21
Three lighted floats will be sponsored. SOCU will sponsor the dragon lighted float, Streator Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and city of Streator will sponsor the lighted train and Streator Drugs and Star Ford will sponsor a lighted snowman. Streator and Woodland Key Club members will participate in the parade as characters Oscar the Grouch, the Cookie Monster and Elmo; a reindeer and snowman also are expected to walk in the parade. “Kids will get to greet their favorite Christmas characters,” said Donna Stone, who has been involved with the Christmas parade since the late 1980s when it became the Ace Hardware Santa Parade. “I think since the professionally lighted floats are handled by sponsors now, it’s really sparked the community to create their own imaginative lighted floats.” There will be new categories this year for awards. A cash prize for first place in each category will be awarded. The Christmas Star Award will be given to the entry displaying the best overall creativity, appearance, and originality. The Santa’s Sleigh Award will be given to the entry with the best theme in motion as float or other motorized vehicle. The Vintage Vehicle Award (more than 20 years old) will go to the entry for best car/
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Take a ride around City Park in holiday elegance. Candlelight Horse & Carriage, of Yorkville, will be providing horse and carriage rides 8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, from the southeast corner of City Park. Rides are $2 per person.
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The Times | file
“Cousin Eddie” from the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” movie hands out coloring books along the parade route during Streator’s 2018 lighted parade. The parade is one of many activities during the city’s Keeping Christmas Close to Home festivities. truck/tractor display. Parade judges are Councilwoman Tara Bedei, John Swanson and Streator Fire Chief Gary Bird. No live Santas are allowed on any floats except for when Santa arrives in Streator in his sleigh at the end of the parade. The sleigh is once again provided by Everett Solon at Midland States Bank. The committee is hoping to have the lighted
tractors/implements back in the parade this year, as the community has a strong agriculture heritage. Shine up that unit after harvest, add some lights and join in the celebration. Each year, it is the hopes of the committee the parade will be larger and better than the year before. For more information, call Jim at 815-672-6203 or Lauren at 815-822-7663.
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Oohs & Ahhs The Times Staff One of the true highlights of Streator’s holiday season is the countdown to the City Park’s light up. 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 And in an instant, the foursquare-block park is illuminated and transformed into a Christmas wonderland. The park is scheduled to come to life at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 — a half hour before the lighted parade downtown. The park is decorated by volunteers from the Light Up Streator Committee, who spend countless hours on their weekends in November stringing lights. Adding to the ambience, entertainment will be provided on stage
Looking for a bite while out and about?
from 6:15 to 6:25 p.m. by the Lamplight Singers of Millington in Victorian period clothing. The group also will sing from 5 to 6:15 p.m. along Main Street, then head back downtown after the park light-up. Also new to the park light-up, Streator High School welding students created 12 metal sculptures, sponsored by local businesses. These sculptures will accompany the more traditional decorations in the park, such as the Light Up Streator Holiday Express train and the illuminated walkways. The Light Up Streator Committee also decorates City Hall, city entrance signs, as well as downtown streets. A nativity scene is put up across the street from Streator Home Savings Bank, near the corner of Monroe and Bridge streets.
Photos with Santa Santa will be at Streator Ace Hardware
Sunday, December 1, 8 & 15 Noon - 3 pm
The Times Staff
Bring the kids and their smiles.
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Cruisin’ Concessions, serving up hot dogs and lemon shakeups, among other items, will be at City Park from 5 to 9 p.m. Prior to 5 p.m., Cruisin’ Concessions will be set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Streator Incubator, 401 E. Bridge St. Dig Doug’s BBQ and Mr. J’s also will have food trucks at City Park. Hot dogs, barbecue, chips, soft drinks and water will be for sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Park Place, 406 E. Hickory St. Ace Hardware will serve hot chocolate and cookies prior to the lighted parade.
404 E. Main, Streator 815-672-2439
KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME | The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Park light-up brings out
The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
| KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME
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KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME |
The Times Staff Shopping with Mom or Dad may not be so bad for little ones at the Streator Incubator.
The model train display by Les Cisco, of Morris, is a highlight of the Keeping Christmas Close to Home celebration for children. The model train setup will be on
Library will read “Dewey’s Christmas at the Library”
Streator Public Library will host a holiday reading for children at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, as part of Streator’s Christmas celebration. This year’s story selection is “Dewey’s Christmas at the Library.” After a series of silly misadventures, Dewey the cat finds a way to add his own special touch to his beloved Christmas tree.
display from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Streator Incubator, 401 E. Bridge St. The setup includes a circus, carnival and city scenes. The model also
features some Streator landmarks including a small-size representation of the Santa Fe railway from the Vermilion River to the First Street underpass.
etters to
anta
Parents and classrooms in La Salle County and surrounding areas are invited to send Santa letters for a special publication in The Times. Our staff is accepting and printing children’s letters to Santa Claus.
The deadline to receive letters is Friday, Dec. 6. SEND LETTERS TO ... T The Times, 110 W. Jefferson St., Ottawa, IL 61350 T Drop off at our offices at 110 W. Jefferson St., Ottawa, or 115 Oak St., Streator. T Fax to 815-433-1639 T Email to tsloup@shawmedia.com.
The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Celebrate Streator’s railroad history
12 | KEEPING CHRISTMAS CLOSE TO HOME
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The Times - Delivering Your Community • Tuesday, November 26, 2019
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