St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade Grand Marshal Picked

ST. CHARLES, IL — A longtime member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and fundraising coordinator at the Lazarus House has been picked to lead this year's Electric Christmas Parade.

On Tuesday, the St. Charles Business Alliance announced Darlene Riebe would be the grand marshal for the annual parade, which will be held on Nov. 26.

Riebe has been a resident of St. Charles since 1978.

She worked at the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce for 20 years, starting as the welcome hostess and later becoming the membership Ddrector. Currently, she is an ambassador of the chamber. She also worked as a fundraising coordinator at the Lazarus House until her retirement in 2020.

Since 1990, Riebe started helping out with organizing St. Charles parades and festivals and has been involved in every St. Charles St. Patrick’s and Holiday Parade since 1999, either as an organizer or on the parade committee, according to a news release. She was instrumental in continuing the St. Patrick’s Parade after it was cancelled, and helping to transition the holiday parade into the nighttime event it currently is.

Riebe says she does it for the kids.

“...I want to see the smiles on the children’s faces. That’s why I do what I do," she said.

In 2016, Riebe was awarded the Charlemagne Award – an award that recognizes individuals who demonstrate what it means to give back to the community. Along with all her efforts in the St. Charles parades and festivals, she is currently on the board of the St. Charles History Museum and is the incoming President of the St. Charles Kiwanis.

The Electric Christmas Parade is part of St. Charles Holiday Homecoming, which is a two-day event that begins on Nov. 25 with the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony.