PEORIA, Ill. – A tradition that’s more than a century old in Peoria began the Christmas holiday season Friday morning.
The 138th edition of the Santa Claus Parade weaved through the streets of downtown, featuring more than 60 entries of holiday themed floats, marching bands, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Susie Stockman has chaired the parade for 38 years and also portrays Mrs. Claus, and says the best part about the parade is seeing the smiles on kids’ faces.
“They love to see Santa and Mrs. Claus and they give you their Christmas wishes and their lists and it’s just fun to see the kids,” Stockman said.
This year’s grand marshall was Chuck Collins, who retired in October as 25 News First Alert Chief Meteorologist, and calls it a “full circle moment.”
“I grew up in Marquette Heights watching this parade as a kid, and then as I got in my broadcast career, I covered it on radio and TV, so I was actually working the parade, and now since I’ve retired, I’ve been named the grand marshall,” Collins said.
Collins says the parade’s history and traditions are what makes it special.
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