Wednesday, I took a quick stroll down I-74 to the Festival of Lights display in East Peoria, IL. I haven't been back to visit this display since 2009 so it was definitely time to revisit this location. After all, I haven't had much else to do since their has been a lack of winter storms in the area to my dismay. I've however found myself getting-out a lot more for photography purposes thanks to the rather tranquil weather though. I'd really like a winter storm at some point though! I'm just not sure when/if Mother Nature is going to cooperate. We ended up hitting 50°F again yesterday for a high temperature. It has been quite an unusual winter here in the Midwest to say the least. Than again we've had some terrible winters in the last few years so maybe this is Mother Nature's way of averaging everything out?! Anyhow, I've posted a large amount of photos from Wednesday and Wednesday night below:
in the eastern horizon...
Beautiful colors and a light pillar (center-right)...
And the show begins after 5:00pm...
The entrance to the show!
Warp speed!?
Cool shot of the space shuttle!
Closer-view...
Reaching for the stars here...
Love this shot with that reflection!
Another angle here of the "lit-up" train...
Another train at this "lit-up" railroad crossing!
Looking back toward the train cars...
From a slightly different angle...
The riverboat casino
(I didn't see this back in 2009)
I saw these (Budweiser Clydesdales) a few years
ago too and they are still a part
of the display today...
I'm sure the kids like this: The Batmobile!
Monster truck!
I'm not sure what this is?! (Robotic dog?!)
The huge whale display!
Skiers skiing on bare-ground...Not the way
I'm sure the organizers for-seen I bet...
Cool horse display!
A closer shot...
A classic car seen here (above)
A Caterpillar bulldozer...another new addition?
The only version of a snowman you can
find in central Illinois this winter thus far...
A nice chopper here...
The stars & stripes!
A firetruck display!
A new addition: A dragon that changes color...
A seal display...
They used to inhabit this planet nearly
140 million years ago...
Another shot of the riverboat as I've done some
gambling at the Par-a-dice Casino
this past year myself...
Maybe we'll get to build a snowman soon?
Who wouldn't want to be under a
palm tree right now?!
Now that's one mighty dragon!
Triceratops!
The "Wally" display!
Peacock display...
Another interesting display!
For the Star Wars nerds: A TIE fighter!
And another Star Wars spaceship...
Looking back toward the train cars...
(I didn't see this back in 2009)
ago too and they are still a part
of the display today...
The huge whale display!
I'm sure the organizers for-seen I bet...
find in central Illinois this winter thus far...
A new addition: A dragon that changes color...
140 million years ago...
gambling at the Par-a-dice Casino
this past year myself...
palm tree right now?!
That will wrap up this post. It was nice to get back to this location. It had been a few years since I've revisited this holiday light display in East Peoria, IL. It all worked out this year since I found some free time to make the short trip. As far as the weather goes it still appears we are going to be locked-in to this winter pattern with brief shots of cold-air. It still looks though temperatures will be above-normal in the long-term. A crazy winter that is leaving everyone wondering when will Mother Nature's snow machine kick-in?! Your guess is as good as mine right now...
