PEKIN — Peoria has the Santa Claus Parade and East Peoria has the Festival of Lights Parade.
Pekin’s counterpart event to kick off the holidays is the 39th Pekin Winter Wonderland Festival, starting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30.
Mineral Springs Park is transformed into a holiday destination featuring over 400 lighted trees and a fireworks display, the work of the Pekin Park District and the Pekin Winter Wonderland Festival Committee, plus local sponsors and volunteers.
“Our event was started in 1987 by some local residents that just wanted to bring more holiday spirit to Pekin,” said PWWL Committee member Sherry Fulk. “Since then, PWWL has grown and become something people in the community look forward to each year. We want to continue that growth to include the surrounding areas including the residents of Peoria.”
The event features a parade, children’s activities, seasonal treats from Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck and Gramma Nana’s Kitchen, live entertainment, and a chance to meet Orion, a live reindeer from Snowman’s Reindeer Farm in Canton.
Activities will include a candy cane hunt before the parade and a Christmas carol sing-along after. The parade will step off on Broadway Street at 3:30 p.m. The fireworks display will start at 5:30 p.m. Orion is at the park from 3-5 p.m.
More information is available at pekinwinterwonderland.com.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pekin Winter Wonderland event is Sunday. Here’s what to know
Reporting by Mike Kramer, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
