The St. Charles Business Alliance has selected St. Charles Fire Chief Joe Schelstreet as the grand marshal for the 2019 Electric Christmas Parade, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, on Main Street in downtown St. Charles.

Schelstreet

Schelstreet retired from his role as fire chief in October of this year after being with the St. Charles Fire Department for 30 years. Schelstreet served as acting fire chief in 2012 before becoming the fire chief permanently in 2013. He is also a fourth-generation St. Charles resident, with his father serving in the St. Charles Fire Department.

The Electric Christmas Parade is organized by the St. Charles Business Alliance, along with the help of many volunteers. The Alliance Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said the Alliance is ecstatic to have Schelstreet as the grand marshal.

“It’s our honor to be able to have Chief Schelstreet as our Grand Marshal,” Sawicki said. “We hope the community can get out and honor him for his service.”

Presented by Fox Valley Auto Group, Holiday Homecoming is a two-day event, featuring Lighting of the Lights on Nov. 29 in First Street Plaza; and a free showing of The Grinch at the Arcada Theater, free horse-drawn trolley rides, live holiday window displays in downtown businesses, visits with Santa and the grand finale — the Electric Christmas Parade — taking place on Nov. 30.

For more information, visit www.stcholidayhomecoming.com/, call the St. Charles Business Alliance office at 630-443-3967 or email info@stcalliance.org.

Schedule of Activities

Friday, Nov. 29, 2019

• 5 p.m. — Lighting of the Lights on the 1st Street Plaza

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019

• 9 a.m. — Free Showing of The Grinch at Arcada Theater – Doors open at 9 a.m. with a Christmas sing-a-long and movie starting at 10 a.m.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Visit with Santa on the 1st Street Plaza
• 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Free Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides on 1^st Street
• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Live Holiday Window Displays in downtown businesses
• 5:30 p.m. — Electric Christmas Parade on Main Street

Santa’s House will open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30 through Dec. 22.

All Holiday Homecoming events and activities are free of charge.

SOURCE: St. Charles Business Alliance news release