CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY OUTINGS!

A while back I mentioned the Advent Vespers concert that I attend every year, but that is just the first of several holiday events and outings that have become a tradition for me. A week ago friends and I attended another of the Holiday must see events here in Minneapolis, the Holidazzle Parade!  For some the parade might tend to over commercialize the Christmas Season, or even seem tacky, but I have to admit all of those thoughts disappear when I see the wide-eyed looks of wonder on the faces of the children in the crowd as they watch the lighted floats go by.

A beautiful display of lights!

The circus is in town!

The Nutcracker was sweet!

The Holidazzle Parade began twenty years ago and is a magical way to light up the night in the downtown.  Each year over 300,000 people are treated to wonderful floats representing, nursery rhymes, children’s books, holiday classics, and, of course, Santa himself.  Not only are the floats lit up with hundreds of light, the costumes worn by the riders on the floats, and others walking in the parade are also lighted as well.  The street lights on the downtown mall are turned off, so that the dimmed environment highlights the (Holi)dazzling brilliance of the floats.

Pinocchio was there.

And, of course, the evening ended with a visit from Santa himself!

Is the display too commercial or tacky?  Maybe to some.  But to others, especially the children (of all ages), it is nothing short of magical!  And, really, that’s what this season is truly all about.  I hope this year you too will experience the wide-eyed magic of the Holiday Season.

A magical evening of fun, friends . . .

. . . and of course, food.