Wonder how we get the U.S.S. East Peoria float through the garage doors and inside the Festival Building? The sides of the space ship’s saucer fold in! Countdown to the Festival of Lights: 82 days.

If you enjoy running, participating in running events and would like to organize them, the Festival of Lights is offering an opportunity. The Festival of Lights is looking for volunteers interested in chairing its two running events, the FOLEPI River Trail Classic which occurs the Saturday after Thanksgiving and the Get Lit New Year’s Eve Fun Run. The long-time chairman of the two events has announced his retirement, and the 2019 runs will be the last ones he organizes. The FOLEPI River Trail Classic is an Illinois Valley Striders-sanctioned grand prix event which attracts participants from throughout the country. It will celebrate its 30th year in 2019. The event, open to men, women and children of all ages, features a 4-mile competitive run at 9 a.m. and 2-mile non-competitive walk at 8:30 a.m. on the River Trail of Illinois. The Get Lit, in its 19th year in 2019, takes place at 11:50 p.m. Dec. 31. The non-competitive run/walk occurs on a paved course through the Folepi’s Winter Wonderland drive-through display. There is no vehicular traffic in the Winter Wonderland during the run/walk. A post event pizza party buffet occurs at Avanti’s Ristorante in East Peoria. Those interested in chairing one or both runs will work with the current chairman on the 2019 events, and then take over as the new chairman in 2020. Those interested should send an email with their contact information to folepi@cityofeastpeoria.com. They can reside anywhere within the Peoria metro area.

East Peoria Festival of Lights Shirts Archives | A Cheep Tee Peoria Illinois T-Shirts

Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the Festival of Lights and will visit when we open again in November 2019. The festival team has already been talking about what we want to do for the next festival. We really do work on this all year. If anyone has ideas for a display or event they would like to implement and chair, please let us know by sending an email to folepi@cityofeastpeoria.com.

Tonight is the final night to see Folepi’s Winter Wonderland, from 5-9 p.m. Want to see the displays up close? Come to the family friendly Get Lit New Year’s Eve Fun Run/Walk through the Winter Wonderland at 11:50 p.m. followed by a pizza party at Avantis! This is the 18th year for the Get Lit. You can register tonight from 10:30-11:45 p.m. in the Lincoln School gym at 801 Springfield Rd. Details here: http://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/DocumentCenter/View/509/Get-Lit-brochure-2018?bidId=

If you haven’t seen them yet, or want to see them again, this is the final weekend for Folepi’s Winter Wonderland. We will be open tonight and Saturday night from 5-11 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m. New Year’s Eve hours are 5-9 p.m. and that is the final night. The display is located at 123 Par 3 Lane, off Springfield Road. Admission is $10 for cars, trucks and vans, and $30 for a small bus (mini, party, shuttle, school, RV and limousine).

Want to see the floats and displays up really close? You can on New Year's Eve during the Get Lit New Year's Eve Fun Run-Walk through Folepi's Winter Wonderland. It starts at 11:50 p.m. and there will be no vehicle traffic in the display at that time. This is the one and only time each year that pedestrians are allowed in the display. Run (or walk) in the new year and check out the displays up close in this family event, which is followed by a pizza party at Avantis. You can do the Get Lit only, or the Get Lit and the pizza party, but register soon! Find the registration form, prices and other details here: http://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/176/Get-Lit-New-Years-Eve-Fun-Run The drive-through display is open every night through New Year's Eve. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Dec. 26-27, 5-11 p.m. Dec. 28-29, and 5-9 p.m. Dec. 30-31. Drive-through admission is $10 for cars, trucks and vans, and $30 for a small bus (mini, party, shuttle, school, RV and limousine).

Make a trip to Folepi's Winter Wonderland a part of your holiday celebration! We are open for Christmas Eve from 5-9 p.m., and since it is Monday, that means it is Chick-fil-A Monday at Folepi's Winter Wonderland. Every vehicle at the drive-through display will receive a sweet treat - free dessert from Chick-fil-A East Peoria! Admission is $10 for cars, trucks and vans, and $30 for a small bus (mini, shuttle, party, school, RV and limousine). We will also be open on Christmas from 5-9 p.m. and after Christmas too! And if you want to see the Parade of Lights again, it will be shown on WEEK TV-25 on Christmas at 4:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (This will be listed in the programming schedule as Paid Programming.)

Photos from East Peoria Festival of Lights's post

There’s ice at Folepi’s Enchanted Forest tonight ... FREE Kona Ice of Peoria that is! Kona Ice and Santa Claus are at the forest until 7:30 p.m. tonight. The Forest is at 401 W. Washington St. and admission is free.

Check out this time lapse video of Folepi’s Winter Wonderland shot in 2017 by cinematographer Chad Weber! Be sure and note the rising moon toward the end. Many thanks to Chad for giving this footage to the festival! The drive-through display will be open this weekend from 5-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday as well as Sunday! We will be open 5-9 p.m. Monday (Christmas Eve) and Tuesday (Christmas). We are open after Christmas too! Admission is $10 for cars, trucks and vans, and $30 for a small bus (mini, party, shuttle, school, RV and limousine). We expect to be very busy the next several nights. If you come Friday, Saturday or Sunday, please be aware that you will likely be in a very long line. Have patience and plan accordingly. Also, please allow our residents who live along Springfield Road access to their driveways and the side streets.

Photos from East Peoria Festival of Lights's post

See Santa and get free Kona Ice of Peoria from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Folepi’s Enchanted Forest on Friday, Dec. 21! This will be the final time Santa will visit the forest before his big night. Get a photo of the kids with Santa or out in front of our giant Christmas tree, or both. And then get some delicious Hawaiian style shaved ice from Kona Ice for FREE! The Forest display is at 501 W. Washington Street in The Levee District retail area and Santa will be just inside the building. Forest admission is free.

On Tuesday while the Festival Queen, first and second runner-ups and Pageant chairwoman were at Folepi’s Winter Wonderland, more than 200 cars “paid it forward “ and paid for the admission of the vehicle behind them. What wonderful holiday spirit! The drive-through display is open from 5-9 p.m. tonight, and admission is $10 for cars, trucks and vans, and $30 for a small bus. Friday is the final night for the kids to visit Santa at Folepi’s Enchanted Forest. And, Kona Ice will be handing out free Hawaii style shaved ice! It all happens from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at the enchanted forest.