The 128th Annual Santa Claus Parade kicks off at 10:15 this morning at the Central Fire Station on Monroe Street in downtown Peoria. It’s the longest continuously running holiday parade in the U-S. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis says the annual tradition is a large draw for the city:
“It’s a great event. sometimes we get as big a crowd for the Santa Claus parade as we do St. Patrick’s Day.”
The parade has 88 entries of costume characters, horse units and decorated floats. The annual Yule-Like-Peoria Walk-A-Bout is also set for six this evening with the lighting of the Peoria County Courthouse display followed by an ice carving contest and downtown entertainment.