Grand Marshal Picked For Electric Christmas Parade

ST. CHARLES, IL — A lifelong resident of St. Charles has been picked as the grand marshal for this year's Electric Christmas Parade.

The parade will be held on Saturday, Nov. 27. The Electric Christmas Parade is part of St. Charles Holiday Homecoming weekend, which begins on Friday, Nov. 26 with the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony, according to a news release.

Steve Martin is a lifelong resident of St. Charles. He graduated from St. Charles High School in 1971. Since high school, Steve has been in the banking profession and started his career as a community banker, according to a news release.

He recently retired after 29 years of employment as the vice president head of loans for First State Bank.

"Martin is happily enjoying his retirement with his wife of 43 years, Cindy, along with his children and grandchildren," according to a news release from the St. Charles Business Alliance.

Martin has been an active volunteer in the St. Charles community, sitting on numerous boards and committees and volunteering for many programs and events. In 2014, Martin was honored with the Charlemagne Award, recognizing a lifetime of community service. He was also the recipient of the 2018 School District 303 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition for his high level of achievement and contributions to his community.

For more than 41 years, Martin has been the Chief Marshal of the St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade and St. Patrick’s Parade. He has also marshaled additional parades including the Memorial Day Parade, Labor Day Parade and 1984 Sesquicentennial Parade, according to the news release.

Martin said he was honored to be named Grand Marshal for this year and in past years.

“Hundreds of people have served as volunteer Parade Marshals to help create order out of chaos in the staging area of the more than 70 parades that I have marshaled in St. Charles since 1980,” Martin said.

For more information on the parade and other St. Charles Holiday Homecoming festivities and business specials around town, please visit www.stcholidayhomecoming.com. Or if you would like to be a volunteer, please email info@stcalliance.org.