Lights Fantastic Parade

 Traffic, from what I could tell, was not as heavy in downtown as it has been in past years for the parade. I was able to navigate the sidewalks near the square quite easily and we still had plenty of cookies left over after the cookie walk.

I did hear a few people complaining about traffic getting all snarled up for, from what I could tell, it was moving pretty steadily with no noticeable jams or problems, aside from the cars I spotted driving the wrong way on Elm and University.

We do have plenty of cookies left over should you like to stop by and partake.

Lights Fantastic

 Just a reminder that the Lights Fantastic parade takes place this Saturday at 6 p.m. Sl Illinois from the North side of the square down to Wall Street and all of the streets crossing it will close at 5 p.m. and reopen at 8. Traffic will flow as normal on South 51 though.

Lights Fantastic

  Parade got over suprizingly quickly this year and crowds did not appear as heavy as in past years. Everything was cleared out by a bit after 8 p.m. I did hear preliminary attendance figures were 20,000 attendees, making it the largest crowd in years.

We normally make the store bathrooms available to parade atendees and usually have a dozen or so people take advantage of the offer. This year only 2-3 did. People did get an early start on the Cookie Walk as we had people stopping by storly after three. We did have plenty of cookies and cider left over as I heard a couple of other locations did as well.

Lights Fantastic Parade

Downtown streets in Carbondale will close at 5 p.m. this Saturday and reopen about 8 p.m. for the Lights Fantastic parade. Travel through downtown will prove problematic during that period so plan accordingly

Lights Fantastic

  Just a reminder that the Lights Fantastic Parade takes place tomorrow and downtown streets will start closing at 5 p.m. If you park on S. Illions prior to that, you will need to move your car prior to 5 p.m. as your car will either be towed or stuck there until 8 p.m. when the streets reopen.

Lights Fantastic Parade

Carbondale's annual Lights Fantastic parade takes place tomorrow, starting about 6 p.m. Downtown streets will close at 5 p.m. and reopen when the parade ends about 8 p.m.  The store will have cookies and hot cider during the day and evening.

Lights Fantastic Route

The Lights Fantastic Parade will pass about half a block east of the store so roads will start closing later afternoon. Here is the press release from the city:

The 27th Annual Lights Fantastic Parade returns to downtown Carbondale on Saturday, December 2.

The parade will begin promptly at 6 p.m. along Mill Street and will travel north on Illinois Avenue to Town Square.

Parade goers are encouraged to arrive early to avoid road closures and detours along Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Highway 51 from 5-8 p.m.

West Bus Service and Jackson County Mass Transit will provide rides to the parade from Murdale Shopping Center, University Mall, SIU Arena and Student Center. Buses will pick up passengers every 15 minutes between 4-6 p.m. Buses will return passengers following the parade.