January 15, 2025
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Oglesby to turn into a Winter Wonderland on Dec. 14

Christmas walk, lighted parade, tree lighting among the activities

By Derek Barichello
LaSalle Peru High School band member Carl Hicks marches with his flute during the Oglesby Winter Parade on December 9, 2023.

The La Salle-Peru High School band were among the parade participants in the 2023 event. (Kyle Russell)

Downtown Oglesby will be a festive place Saturday as the city hosts its annual holiday festival.

Participating businesses and organizations will have open houses from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday with treats, crafts, games, specials and other holiday activities.

The Winter Wonderland parade is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. from Walnut Street east to west, followed by a community tree lighting 6:15 p.m. at Senica Square.

Holy Family’s Kale Jasiek will serve as the parade king and Cara Kilmartin will serve as queen. Lincoln students Mason Moore will serve as prince, and Olivia Oberholz will serve as princess. They will ride in a royalty carriage sponsored by the city of Oglesby.

Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available to the public from 2 to 4 p.m. Pickup locations are at the Oglesby Public Library and East End Tap. The rides will operate in a continuous loop, picking up at one stop and dropping off at the other stop.

Participating businesses are Alliance Dental Group with a craft and treat bag; Brennan’s Bar and Grill with a photo board and craft; Bulldogs Bar with face-painting and reindeer food; Carrico-Claudette’s with a craft, treat and refreshment; Cortileno’s with ornament decorating, cookies and cocoa; Dickinson House (at 3 p.m.) with pictures with Santa and a refreshment; East End Tap with a craft and treat; Hot Rodz Gaming with a refreshment and treat; Lizzie’s Lounge with coloring items and a treat; MP Automotive and Repair with a life-size gingerbread house and vendors; Oglesby Public Library with a Jingle Bells craft; Oglesby Union Church with a craft, petting zoo and refreshment; Prey-Muller Funeral Home with refreshments and tours; Sacred Senses with a craft and gift bag; Shining Nerd 3-D with a craft and refreshment; and Timber Creek Beauty Studio with glitter tattoos, hair tinsel and jewelry.

Walnut Street from North School to Spring avenues will be closed from 1 to 7 p.m. during the Winter Wonderland. There will be no parking on Walnut Street from Spring Avenue to Watson Street from about 1 p.m. until the parade is completed. Lehigh Avenue will be closed about 2 p.m. until parade entries move out.

Residents can personalize an ornament to decorate the community tree. Ornaments are available at City Hall and the library at no cost. The 16-foot tree will be displayed in Senica Square, with the lighting ceremony set for Saturday after the parade.

Instead of candy the Grinch threw "snowballs" out into the crowd during the Oglesby Winter Parade on December 9, 2023.

Instead of candy, the Grinch throws "snowballs" out into the crowd during the 2023 Oglesby Winter Wonderland parade. (Kyle Russell)

Oglesby policeman Paul Peterson hands out a stuffed animal and other toys to children along the Oglesby Winter Parade route on December 9, 2023.

Oglesby police officer Paul Peterson hands out a stuffed animal and other toys to children along the 2023 Winter Wonderland parade route. The parade returns Saturday, Dec. 14, to downtown Oglesby. (Kyle Russell)

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Derek Barichello

Derek Barichello

Derek Barichello is the news editor for The Times in Ottawa and NewsTribune in La Salle, part of Shaw Local News Network, covering La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. He covers local and breaking news in the areas of government, education, business and crime and courts, among others.