Keller Station Hosts Fourth Annual Kringle Event
Vendors and food trucks gathered at Keller Station in Peoria to support local businesses and welcome newcomers to the community.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Philanthropy
Keller Station on North Knoxville Avenue in Peoria hosted its fourth annual Kringle at Keller Station event on Saturday, featuring more than 40 vendors and food trucks. Gifts, including homemade items, were on sale.
Why it matters
The event was designed to support local businesses and to help people new to the community connect with Peoria. Its organizers describe it as among the first events of its kind in the area.
The fourth annual Kringle at Keller Station drew more than 40 vendors and food trucks. No attendance or sales totals were reported, and no prior-year vendor comparison was provided.
The players
Danielle LaRoche
LaRoche serves as the 'chaos' coordinator for Kringle at Keller Station, overseeing the event's organization.
Greater Peoria Honor Flight
The Greater Peoria Honor Flight is a local nonprofit that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials dedicated to their service.
The details
Vendors and food trucks filled Keller Station for the Saturday event, where homemade gifts were sold. Separately, the Greater Peoria Honor Flight asked the community to create cards for veterans who will ride on its next flight.
Timeline
Saturday: Kringle at Keller Station fourth annual event held
November 16, 2026, 11 a.m.: Deadline to submit veteran cards
Philanthropy Landscape
Community-run volunteer drives like the Greater Peoria Honor Flight card collection channel local goodwill toward veterans' recognition. The Kringle event similarly routes shopper spending toward local vendors rather than national chains.
Residents can drop off handwritten cards for veterans at the Fondulac District Library in East Peoria or the Pekin Public Library before the November 16 deadline. Shoppers who attend local vendor events help keep small Peoria businesses in operation.
The takeaway
Small acts like writing a card or shopping at a local vendor event can directly support veterans and neighborhood businesses. Check nearby library drop-off times before the deadline to participate.
What happens next
Veteran cards for the Greater Peoria Honor Flight are due by 11 a.m. on November 16, 2026, at the Fondulac District Library in East Peoria or the Pekin Public Library.
Further reading
Explore more Peoria philanthropy coverage to see how local giving efforts are organized.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 25newsnow.
