PEORIA, Ill. – The Christmas season arrived in Peoria on a chilly and windy Friday morning with an annual tradition.
The 137th edition of the Peoria Santa Claus Parade weaved its way through the streets of downtown Peoria, starting near the Central Firehouse, traveling on Monroe, down Main Street, and finishing on Adams.
This year’s parade featured 65 entries; ranging from Peoria-area school marching bands, themed Christmas floats from PACE, and the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus as the main attraction talking with the children in attendance at the end of the parade.
Havana High School’s marching band withdrew from the parade due to cold conditions. Wind chills during the parade hovered in the low-teens.
Susie Stockman portrayed Mrs. Claus in the parade, and is also the parade’s organizer.
“We started this summer, Paul Kluber and a group of volunteers redid some of our floats,” Stockman said. “They put sound on them, and lights on the trees, which we never had before.”
Stockman says the parade is a Peoria tradition that has persevered throughout the years, surviving through pandemics and world wars. She says a dedicated group of volunteers makes that possible.
This year’s grand marshall is Germantown Hills-native Anna Peplowski, who won a silver medal in swimming at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Peplowski says she’s thankful for the honor, and adds that it’s not her first time in the parade.
“I was in the Shoe with my neighbor a long time ago when I was a kid. I always remember being so cold, but it was so fun because we got to ride around Peoria. And it just meant a lot being able to be the star of it this year,” Peplowski said.
Peplowski says what will stick with her the most in 2024 is putting in the work to make everything work out. She plans to turn pro after her senior season at Indiana University, with a goal of making the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics team.
Comments