2011 Festival of Lights Parade

Friday, November 25, 2011 at 7PM

Join us for Santa's arrival from the North Pole!  Decorated floats, marchers, and music make this an evening of enchantment.  This is the only nighttime parade in Crystal Lake.

The weather outside may be just a bit frightful, but a little chill won't stop the 50+ parade entries or thousands of spectators from enjoying the most wonderful community parade in Crystal Lake!  Click here for a parade application.

The parade will kick-off at City Hall, go west on Woodstock Street, south on N. Caroline Street, east on Crystal Lake Avenue, north on Grant Street, east on Woodstock Street, south on Williams Street.  Santa will arrive at the end of the parade in his horse-drawn sleigh to light the Downtown Christmas Tree and begin visits with children at his house in Brink Street Market.  One lucky family of four will win a ride-of-a-lifetime in Santa's Sleigh during the parade.  Click here for additional information.

Photos from last year's parade are posted at the bottom of this webpage (scroll down)

Also, for a special treat, the School District 47 & 155 bus drivers shared their photo album with us (scroll down), which shows all the time and energy (and fun) put into building of an award-winning float.  We know that ALL of our entrants put a lot into their units, and it shows!  Thank you to everyone who participated!

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Congratulations to the 2010 Parade Trophy Winners!

Five trophies were awarded

Trophy winners for the 2010 Festival of Lights Parade are:

Best Use of Lights - School District 155 & 47

Best Use of Music - Crystal Lake Strikers

Most Enthusiastic Walkers - Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

Most Creative - Barlina Court Neighbors

Judges' Choice - Crystal Lake Bank & Trust

We Love our Sponsors!

All Downtown Crystal Lake holiday events and activites are organized and staffed by volunteers.  Special thanks to our sponsors whose generous donations help offset the cost of hosting this great holiday event!

2011 Holiday Sponsors Include (this list is still growing!):

Area 51 Tattoos

Black Diamond Plumbing & Electric

BMO Harris Bank

Cafe Olympic

Centegra Health System

Color Me Mine

Countryside Flowershop & Nursery

Cowlin, Curran, & Coppedge

Crystal Lake Bank & Trust

Crystal Lake Upholstery Shop

Da Buffone Cucina Italiana

Dalzell Jewelers

Don Devine State Farm Insurance

Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub

Joe's Barber Shop

Just for You Custom Apparel 

Lloyd's Paint & Paper

Mid America Representatives

Montessori Pathways School 

Northwest Herald

Ormsby Motors

Out of the Box

The Raue Center For The Arts 

The Running Depot

Sage Products 

TLC Massage

Wickham Interiors

Building an Award-Winning Float - District 47 &155 Bus Drivers

Anticipation - Waiting for the Parade!

Here Comes the Parade!

Here Comes Santa Claus!