Light Up the Holidays Parade, Events Set for Friday in Joliet

Submitted by the University of St. Francis:

For the 10th year, the University of St. Francis (USF) will present the Light Up the Holidays parade in Joliet. USF President Arvid C. Johnson and Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante and city council members will welcome the holiday season by lighting the city’s Christmas tree during the annual Light Up the Holidays parade and events.

• Festival of Trees Returns to Joliet Nov. 24

This year’s tree lighting is at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28 in Van Buren Plaza near the Rialto Square Theatre, followed by the parade at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Joliet.

The parade will feature area bands, businesses and organizations with floats and more. USF’s mascot, Bernie, will lead the parade as grand marshal. Characters from the Disney movie “Frozen” will be featured in the parade, which is organized by the Joliet City Center Partnership and the Exchange Club of Joliet.

Many family activities are planned in downtown Joliet throughout the day: The Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St., will feature a holiday fun fair coordinated by the Joliet Park District and the Will County Forest Preserve District. Other festival activities will be located at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St., and special activities and kids’ crafts will be offered at various downtown restaurants. For more information about downtown holiday events, visit http://jolietdowntown.com/events/light-up-the-holidays/

“Christmas is a joy-filled time of celebration at the University of St. Francis, and we are excited and pleased to share glad tidings with the community not only by presenting the downtown parade but also by providing wonderful programming on our campuses - including tens of thousands of Christmas lights - that will help everyone get into the spirit of the season,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson.

”Spirit of Christmas” returns; USF hosts holiday concerts

Catch more holiday cheer by tuning into the University of St. Francis Spirit of Christmas radio program. Commercial-free 24 hours a day and covering all genres of Christmas music, the Spirit of Christmas begins at noon on Thanksgiving day and runs through noon on Jan. 2, 2015. Listen on-air in Will County at 88.7FM or online at www.stfrancis.edu/spirit. Listening to the Spirit of Christmas radio programming has become a family tradition for many, said Johnson.

The Christmas celebration continues with the Joliet Symphony Orchestra at the University of St. Francis’ holiday concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7, at USF, 500 Wilcox St.

The “Christmas Classics” concert will feature the music of Disney’s “Frozen,” along with works by Gershwin, Rossini, Corelli and Saint-Saens. The orchestra is conducted by Jim Stopher.

“Amidst the Cold of Winter” – Christmas at the Motherhouse Concert, long a community tradition, will feature performances by three university choral ensembles to usher in the Christmas season. The Schola Cantorum opens the concert with a Gregorian chant in a candlelight procession. Then the Singing Saints and the Concert Chorale join in the program featuring works by Praetorius, Victoria, Walton, Holst, and Britten, as well as traditional carols. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6.

Concert tickets for both the “Christmas Classics” and “Amidst the Cold of Winter” concerts can be ordered online at www.stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser.