Held as part of the Hometown Holidays celebration in downtown Naperville, the Friends of Little Friends parade features a spectacular collaboration of lights, festive floats and Santa's arrival in preparation for the busy holiday season. Following the parade, Santa Clause will flip the switch and light more than 300,000 holiday lights transforming downtown Naperville into a winter wonderland.

Little Friends is currently seeking entries for the 2008 Friends of Little Friends parade, which will kick-off at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 28. Non-profit organizations, community clubs and musical groups are encouraged to participate. If your organization is interested in participating in this year's parade, please complete an application and submit it to Little Friends, Inc. by October 24, 2008.

To download an application to participate in the 2008 Hometown Holidays Parade, please click here.

To download Parade Guidelines, please click here.

Parade Route

This year’s parade will step off at 4:30 p.m. from Centennial Beach on Jackson Avenue. The route continues east on Jackson Avenue, north on Webster Street and west on Van Buren Avenue to Eagle Street.

To download a copy of this year's Parade Map, please click here.


Participants in this year's Friends of Little Friends Parade will include:

• 95.9 The River
• A Kid's Kitchen
• Anderson's Bookshop
• bd's Mongolian Grill
• Benny the Bull, Chicago Bulls
• Childtime Learning Center
• DuPage Animal Care & Control and Friends of DuPage Animal Care & Control
• DuPage Senior Citizens Council/Meals on Wheels
• Expert Plumbing & Electric
• First National Bank of Naperville
• Gina Glocksen, 2007 American Idol Finalist
• Grand Marshals –The Biegun Family
• Hawthorne Credit Union
• J.P.Morgan
• Krejci Academy Drum Corp 2009
• Little Friends Center for Autism
• Little Friends, Inc.
• Magical Starlight Theatre
• McKeown Classic Homes, Inc.
• McNulty Irish Dancers
• Naperville Central Rotary Interact
• Naperville Dental Specialists & General Oral Health Care & Innovative Orthodontic Centers
• Naperville Fire Department
• Naperville Jaycees
• Naperville Magazine
• Naperville Municipal Band
• Naperville Police Department
• Naperville Sun/Sun Publications
• Naperville Trolley & Tours
• Organ Transplant Support, Inc.
• Ozzie the Cougar, Kane County Cougars
• Reindeer
• Santa & Mrs. Claus
• The School of the Performing Arts
• Skates, Chicago Wolves
• Step Up for Autism Walk
• Support Our Troops
• Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers
• Trinity Irish Dance
• Two Bostons Pet Boutique & Gourmet Bakery
• Western DuPage Special Recreation Association
• Western Suburban Irish
  

Introducing the 2008 Hometown Holidays Bear... Jack Frost

As part of the Hometown Holidays celebration, Little Friends will once again be selling a limited edition Hometown Holidays Bear. “Jack Frost” Bears will be sold at a number of locations beginning on Wednesday, November 19. Bears will be available for $10 each, with proceeds benefiting Little Friends, Inc.

The perfect stocking stuffer, be sure to pick up your very own cuddly “Jack Frost” Bear at one of the following downtown Naperville locations:

• Anderson's Bookshop
  123 W. Jefferson Avenue
  
  
• Artistic Creations Salon
  22 W. Jefferson Avenue
  
  
• The Canterbury Shoppe
  175 W. Jackson Avenue
  
  
• Little Friends, Inc.
  140 N. Wright Street
  
  
• Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
  55 S. Main Street, Suite 351
  
  
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
  22 E. Chicago Avenue, Suite 109
  
  
• Roseland Draperies & Interiors
  204 S. Washington Street
  
  
• Serendipity Resale Shop
  12 W. Jefferson Avenue
  
  
• Two Bostons Pet Boutique & Gourmet Bakery             
  232 S. Washington Street

Percentage of Sales

Several downtown Naperville merchants will celebrate the spirit of giving this holiday season by donating a percentage of their sales over the holiday weekend to Little Friends, Inc. Holiday festivities in downtown Naperville will kick off at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 28, with the seventh annual Friends of Little Friends Electric Parade.

The following stores will be supporting Little Friends this weekend by donating a percentage of sales:

• The Canterbury Shoppe, 175 W. Jackson Avenue
  Ten percent of sales on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, November 28-30
  
  
• Dean's Fine Clothing, 226 Main Street
  Ten percent of sales on Friday & Saturday, November 28-29