Thank you for your interest as a participant in the 2023 Hometown Christmas Lighted Parade! Get ready to be dazzled!
The 2nd Annual Lighted Parade will take place on Saturday, December 2 beginning at 5pm. Our Grand Marshall will lead the lineup of decorated floats, festive vehicles, and singing elves as they illuminate Jefferson Ave. from Baseball Card Connection to Santa’s House.
Event Times:
10a-3p | Downtown Effingham Hometown Christmas Shopping*
11:30a-1:30p | Lunch with Santa @ Joe’s Pizza*
3p-5p | Santa’s Workshop (heated tent in the City parking lot)
- Bulb Planting by the University of Illinois Master Gardeners
- Christmas Activity by C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corp.
- Christmas Coloring by Effingham Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS)
- Christmas Craft by Effingham County Case Managers
- Cookie Decorating by Kirby Foods IGA & HTC Volunteers
- Face Painting by StangARTs
- Reindeer Food by The Royal School of Cosmetology
3p-5p | Christmas & Disney Characters by Effingham Performance Center Theatre Camp and EHS Drama Club
3p-5p | Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
3p-5p | LIVE Reindeer by Dahkne Family Farms
3p-5p | Tractor Train Rides by Bahrns Equipment, Inc., Roepke Overhead Door & Y-Yard
3p-6p | Macklin Kettle Corn* & Joe Sippers Cafe* Beverage Cart
5p | Lighted Christmas Parade (starting at Beanstalk Boutique, heading down Jefferson Ave & ending at Santa’s House)
5:45p-8p | Santa Arrives! Santa House hours with cookies provided by Layna Bond & Associates, LLC – American Family Insurance
6:15p | FACE Orchestra & Christmas Choir @ Old Courthouse Museum
Cost:
$20 parade fee required for all entries except veterans, school groups, & emergency vehicles.
Rules:
- All entries must be decorated with lights in a Christmas theme
- No throwing candy – you can hand it out to the kids (since it is dark and hard to spot)
- Staging between 4:15p-4:45p
- If an entry does not comply with the rules of the parade, they will be asked to leave the line-up
Deadline:
All entries must be received by Monday, November 27 with payment before your entry will be numbered. All entries will receive their lineup number via email by Thursday, November 30.
Payment:
- Accepted forms of payment include: credit card or check (must be sent upon completion of this application)
- Please make checks payable to: ‘Effingham County Chamber’
- Mail to or drop off at: 903 N Keller Dr., Effingham, IL 62401
Questions should be directed to Effingham County Chamber Marketing Director, Nicole Morrison, at (217) 347-6282 or nmorrison@effinghamcountychamber.com.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY: in consideration of your acceptance of this entry form and fee, i, the undersigned intending to be legally bound, do hereby for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages i may have against the effingham county chamber, downtown effingham business group, and their agents and successors and assigns for any and all injuries suffered to me in this event. I further grant permission to the effingham county chamber & downtown effingham business group and/or agents authorized by them to use any photographs, videos, or other record of this event for any legitimate purpose.
This form is currently closed for submissions. Please contact Nicole Morrison/Effingham County Chamber at (217) 347-6282.