The St. Charles annual Holiday Homecoming and Electric parade has grown so much, organizers have run short on help.

Nearly 80 entries have applied to participate in the annual lights fest, which draws 12,000 to 15,000 people a year. The Downtown St. Charles Partnership, which coordinates the parade, has been asking area residents to volunteer to work as parade pacers, banner carriers and crowd organizers.

The parade takes place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, after the illumination of the lights in Lincoln Park Friday, Nov. 28, in downtown St. Charles.

“Each year the parade has grown,” partnership volunteer coordinator Deb Pfaff said. “It’s continued to evolve. We have more community partners participating, so we have an increased need for volunteer support.”

The annual parade, which started in 1981, will feature 34 lighted floats.
Among the guests will be ABC Channel 7 traffic anchor Roz Varon as the parade’s grand marshal, Miss Illinois Katie Lorenz and Santa Claus. The marching bands from St. Charles East and North high schools and the Thompson Middle School Jazz band will also perform in the parade.

In addition to the parade, there also will be a free Christmas concert and movie at the Arcada Theatre at 2 p.m., holiday carolers from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and horse drawn sleigh rides from noon to 4 p.m. 

“There would absolutely be no way this would happen without volunteers,” partnership communications coordinator Deanna Chrones said. “It is because of them we have so many wonderful traditions in St. Charles.”