Peoria’s Old Town Holiday Festival, featuring Second Saturdays, returns on Sat., Dec. 10. Two Peoria events are coming together for a night of free holiday fun in Old Town Peoria from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., near 83rd and Grand Avenues.
Old Town Holiday Festival attendees can stroll through the historic streets of Old Town Peoria, between Peoria and Grand Avenues, with sweaters and hot cocoa and experience live entertainment and festivities. Event entertainment will include live, local music performances, horse drawn carriage rides, a giant interactive snow globe, high school choir performances, gingerbread house displays, and holiday photo opportunities. The Mujeres Mercado and several other local craft vendors will be selling gift items, and a variety of food and beverage trucks will be onsite. Entries for the annual Gingerbread House Contest must be submitted by Dec. 7 at the Peoria Community Center, located at 8335 W. Jefferson St. The grand prize for the Best Overall Large House is $100 and $50 for the Best Overall Mini House.
The highlights of the evening will be a tree lighting ceremony in the heart of Osuna Park, and a special appearance from Santa Claus. Every year, members of the Peoria City Council gather with residents to turn the holiday lights on in the park at 7:15 p.m. In addition, the Peoria Fire-Medical Department will deliver Santa to the festival by firetruck for meet-and-greets and family pictures. Photo prints with Santa Claus are free.
“This annual event includes many celebrated holiday traditions, with a variety of new elements from our Second Saturdays event,” says Director of Arts, Culture, and Library Services Marylou Stephens. “We are delighted to bring the community together once again to celebrate the holiday season.”
For more information about the Old Town Holiday Festival, including the Gingerbread House Competition entry form, visit peoriaaz.gov/specialevents.
