St. Charles is marking the 25th anniversary of its Electric Christmas Parade at 5:30PM on Saturday (11/29), featuring Deborah Foote (who helped launch the parade in 2001) as community guest of honor and St. Charles native actor Chris Witaske (The Bear, New Girl) as the grand marshal.

The illuminated downtown parade is part of the two-day Holiday Homecoming event, which begins Friday with the Lighting of the Lights ceremony at 5PM.

Saturday will also feature a Holiday Shop Crawl as part of Small Business Saturday, with special deals and promotions available at a variety of local spots across St. Charles.

Watch out: Organizers warned that fraudulent event pages are being shared online and reiterated that all Holiday Homecoming events are free, un-ticketed, and not live-streamed.

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Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Holiday Almanack is out! Check out The Little Traveler’s 2025 Holiday Almanack & Look Book for upcoming events and festive new products.

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☑️ Riverfront relic: Batavia’s Historic Preservation Commission will review whether the deteriorating Pal Joey’s chimney along the Fox River should be partially or fully demolished after an engineer flagged serious structural concerns.

☑️ Hidden recordings: Geneva Police charged a 29-year-old St. Charles man after a phone search uncovered hundreds of illegal voyeurism videos taken over several years at public places across the Fox Valley and surrounding areas.

☑️ Subdivision scrutiny: St. Charles officials and residents raised concerns over access, safety, and neighborhood fit during an early review of a proposed 83-home Claibourne Farm subdivision on part of unincorporated Red Gate Farm.

☑️ Public voices: During a recent council meeting, St. Charles officials listened to a large group of residents share concerns about federal immigration activity and its effect on the community but took no action as they consider possible next steps.

☑️ Weekend tragedy: Two people were killed and another was hospitalized after a shooting during a concert at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora Saturday night.

☑️ Road work update: Kane County officials have reopened LaFox Road between Keslinger and 38 with a new lane layout and are preparing for major 2026 work that will temporarily reroute traffic to build a new roundabout near the Metra station.

☑️ Festive funding: The Geneva History Museum has launched its annual Giving Tree display, inviting residents to vote with donations that directly support participating nonprofits through January 1.

☑️ Fun + fitness: The St. Charles Women’s Club has opened registration for its monthlong virtual fitness challenge, Jumpstart January 2026, which raises funds for local nonprofits and offers weekly prizes. Learn about the community initiative.

☑️ Patriotic tribute: Kane County approved the installation of a historical marker and “Liberty Tree” at the courthouse in downtown Geneva to honor five Revolutionary War patriots buried in the area ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

☑️ School facility planning: St. Charles School District 303 has kicked off a six-month, community-led committee to take a fresh look at school buildings and help shape what comes next for facilities across the district.

☑️ Missing a bike? Batavia Police recovered a bicycle believed to be stolen from the west side of town and are asking the owner to come forward with identifying details or proof of ownership.

☑️ Be safe out there: The Kane County Sheriff is launching extra Thanksgiving enforcement patrols to target impaired driving, seatbelt violations, speeding, and distracted driving from November 21 to December 2.

Wednesday is essentially Friday this week, which means there’ll be a ton of mid-week performances to choose from on the night before Thanksgiving.

If I didn’t already have plans, I’d be heading over to WC Social Club in West Chicago to see Fueled by Emo again. Alas, the old skinny jeans will remain in the closet for now.

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At Strongoo, fitness isn’t just about lifting more weight — it’s about feeling better in your body, moving with confidence, and having a place where you actually want to show up and be yourself.

Add in personalized coaching, small group classes, and restorative activities like infrared sauna and guided stretching, and it becomes a complete support system full of like-minded local people.

Curious but hesitant? Watch this quick video to learn why other Tri-Cities residents love being a part of the Strongoo community.

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☑️ Gifting guidance: Batavia MainStreet released its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, which is full of gift ideas in a wide array of categories for just about anyone in your life — all from local businesses.

☑️ Local beer crawl: The St. Charles Business Alliance is promoting an updated STC Brew Tour with a new look and a new brewery, offering participants a free T-shirt for checking in at all six local breweries through the Travel St. Charles app.

🔒 Tensions brewing: Striking Starbucks baristas picketed the Geneva shop with a giant inflatable rat at Routes 31 and 38 last week, joining a nationwide labor action over stalled contract negotiations and alleged unfair labor practices.

✳️ Holiday shopping hub: Looking to pick up some thoughtful gifts from a local shop this season? Urban Artisan in Geneva has you covered with a wide array of fun, unique items for just about anyone in your life. Check out their full gift selection.

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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $1.4M mansion on Sherwood Lane in Geneva.

✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.

☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.

☑️ Get connected: Do you know someone who has recently moved to Batavia or North Aurora? Send them to Welcome Home Batavia, a free service offering info, resources, gifts, and gift certificates to connect people to their new community.

☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.

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🎟️ Chili Cook Off | Wed 11/26, 2-8PM | Obscurity Brewing, Elburn | A “Battle of the Badges” cook off with live music all day — all supporting charities.

🎟️ Black Wednesday Comedy Show | Wed 11/26, 6PM | The Comedy Vault, Batavia | A stacked showcase featuring some of Chicago’s most exciting comedians.

☑️ Winter Light Opening Weekend | Fri 11/28 - Sun 11/30 | ARC, Downtown STC | An original art show and pop-up shop that runs through 1/4.

🎟️ Taylor Mason Live | Sat 11/29, 3PM & 7PM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | Two performances from the acclaimed comedian and ventriloquist.

☑️ Winter Wonder Lights | Sat 11/29, 5-7PM | Peck Farm Park, Geneva | A dazzling display of lights and holiday cheer featuring several family activities.

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