PEORIA ( 25News Now ) -A 20-year-old Peoria native is leading the effort to bring back the longtime “Yule Like Peoria” holiday tradition downtown.

Elizabeth Hanley, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, said she missed the days her family would visit downtown shops and restaurants the day after Thanksgiving, but the pandemic slowed the event down.

This year, she partnered with the city to relaunch the celebration and spend the holiday weekend giving back to her hometown.

“It’s a great way for all of the downtown community to really come together,” said Hanley.

“There [are] so many great businesses and groups involved. It’s funded by the city. It’s for the city. So many families come and it’s really just a great day for Peoria,” she said.

These 13 businesses took part this year,

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