Joliet's Light Up The Holidays Parade Finds Different Location

JOLIET — Although Joliet's annual Light Up The Holidays Parade is just a month away, the city of Joliet and City Center Partnership have done little to publicize the event, typically one of Joliet's biggest community events of the year, aside from June's Taste of Joliet festival.

The biggest question on many residents' minds is whether the parade will happen. How can the parade happen when Austin Tyler Construction is in the midst of a $20 million project on North Chicago Street for downtown Joliet's street and water main improvements?

North Chicago Street, the annual parade route in front of the Rialto Square Theatre where thousands of families gather, is torn up right now, and it's going to be that way for another entire year because of the city of Joliet's construction project.

With the parade route off-limits to the community, does the city and Joliet's City Center Partnership have a Plan B?

The answer, apparently, is yes.

According to the Joliet City Center Partnership website, on the listing for events, you can find a bulletin called "Parade Lineup And Information Guidelines."

Joliet's annual parade is set for Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving.

"Due to downtown construction, the parade route and viewing has been temporarily changed," the website reads. "Lineups will remain in and around the Will County Lot at 302 North Chicago Street. However, the parade route will be along Ottawa Street instead of Chicago Street."

For the unfamiliar, Ottawa Street is the one-way street for the Joliet Public Library, Joliet Area Historical Museum and the Will County State's Attorney's Office building.

According to the posting, the parade lineup begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29 and all parade entries should check in by 5 p.m.

Parking will be available in the parking decks located at Scott Street and Ottawa Street. "Only vehicles that are a part of the parade will be able to enter the route, so plan to drop off participants and then park. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. "

According to the Joliet City Center Partnership website, there will be a North Pole Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Joliet Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St.

"The North Pole Christmas Market will kick off a full day’s worth of holiday events all taking
place within walking distance in Downtown Joliet. Other free Light up the Holidays activities
include the North Pole Park, located across the street from the market. It will include an iceless
skating rink, inflatable gingerbread house slide, and a fun photo opportunity. In addition,
visitors will enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, Joliet’s tree lighting ceremony, Light up the
Holidays Parade, fireworks and more."