Festival of Lights Parade Ushers in Christmas Holiday Friday

The word around town is Santa's leaving the North Pole for a few hours to join the Festival of Lights Parade in Downtown Crystal Lake. 

This year's parade kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, and includes 50 participants. Entries will include lighted and decorated floats, marchers, music, and Santa riding in his horse-drawn sleigh. 

The Megan and Michael Brandt family, of Crystal Lake, won this year's contest to ride in Santa's sleigh during the parade. They, along with their three sons, will arguably have the best seat in town for the parade.  

When Santa gets to the end of the parade route (across from the Raue Center for the Arts), he will light the downtown Christmas tree near the corner of Williams Street and Crystal Lake Avenue.

Santa also has agreed to stay long enough to visit with children at his house in the Brink Street Market.  

The Parade Route: 

The parade starts the Crystal Lake Municipal Complex, 100 W. Woodstock and travels west, turns south on North Caroline Street, east on Crystal Lake Avenue, north on Grant Street, east on Woodstock Street, south on Williams Street (same route as last year). 

More information about this year's Festival of Lights Parade is available on the Downtown Crystal Lake website.