Many Illinoisans look forward each holiday season to the annual East Peoria Festival of Lights.
Jill Peterson, public relations coordinator for the City of East Peoria, indicates that the festival was created to raise holiday cheer during an economic downtime. Organizers of the original festival did not expect the festival to become what it has become today.
Peterson explains that many of the original displays from the first festival are still in use today. Peterson estimates the drive through display has two million lights in it which is divided into themed sections.
The Festival of Lights made the switched to all LED lights five years ago and Peterson notes the switch has cut the electricity bill down to approximately five thousand dollars.
Peterson explains visitors have two routes to get to the Festival of Lights. Depending on which day, the festival prefers one route over the other.
For more information on the Festival of Lights go to www.folepi.org, the East Peoria Festival of Lights facebook page. Admission is $10 per vehicle.
You can view the Festival of Lights until December 31.