July Fourth is the day thousands visit our community to enjoy our annual Fourth of July parade and flag raising ceremony. This is the longest-running celebration in central Illinois of our country’s birthday. Gatherings are held both pre- and post-parade in yards to celebrate and enjoy the day. Get your homes and yards ‘beautified’ for all our visitors. Garbage cans should be put back and not remain on sidewalks. Year after year, multiple generations of families both participate in and view our special offering to central Illinois. To exit or enter West Peoria by parade-time use Western Avenue to go southbound. Use Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to access University Street to go northbound. From west of Ashland, use Swords Avenue to travel in and out of West Peoria.
The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the corner of Sterling and Rohmann and follows Sterling to Moss Avenue, left on Waverly to a left on Rohmann back to Sterling and then right to the community flag pole at the corner of Sterling and Heading for the flag raising recognition. The parade is led by the selected grand marshal who is recognized for ongoing significant contributions to our community.
Ribbons are presented to participants for: Most Patriotic, Best of Show, Service Organizations, Best Juvenile and Grand Marshall. If you wish to be a part of this celebration, you can contact City Hall at 674-1993 to get a line-up spot. The parade steps-off rain or shine.  Remember the tradition of this grass-roots event and get out and participate. All entries are to be decorated in a patriotic manner.
West Peoria is blessed with an excellent volunteer fire department that responds to our emergency needs. Firefighter-of-the-year award was given to Jack Girard and emergency medical technician to Bryan Santowski. They are three-year veterans of the department. The department is accepting new volunteers. If interested, you are encouraged to contact Chief Terry Schadt at 674-6615.
West Peoria Lighting District is offering a $75 rebate to residents installing a new post light in their front yard within city limits that is equipped with a dusk-to-dawn photocell. Anyone with questions should contact John Walker at 453-1490.
Seniors on the Go offers activities for West Peoria seniors. The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month at the township building at 1 p.m. New activities are offered each month.
CityLink installed one of their new lighted bus shelters at the corner of Rohmann and Sterling in June. These shelters offer more safety and protection from the weather. More will be installed before the end of 2016 for the safety of patrons.