East Peoria Festival of Lights enters Phase II Friday night. That's when Winter Wonderland opens, according to coordinator Dan Cunningham.
Cunningham says this year, all the floats are coordinated in one centralized two mile stretch. That's a change from previous years when floats were spread out around the city. Cunningham says the event has been going through financial changes. He says the city used to spend upwards of $500,000 each year to put the event on. Now that's been whittled down the past couple of years to about $200,000. Cunningham says many volunteers are stepping up to help cut costs to keep the event at a high level of entertainment.
Cunningham says each carload will be charged a $10 dollar entry fee each night through New Years Eve. The entrance is at the intersection of Par 3 Lane up the Hill on Springfield Road. Hours are 5-9 Sunday through Thursday and Fridays and Saturdays, you can visit between 5-11pm. The 27th annual Festival of Lights kicked off last weekend with the Parade of Lights.
