The annual Holidazzle Parade, held in downtown Minneapolis, will only be on Friday and Saturday nights this year. This is the last year for the parade, as of right now.
The Holidazzle parade takes place every year around Christmas time, starting Nov. 29 to Dec. 21. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m.
The parade is located right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis on Nicollet Mall from 12th to 4th street.
The Holidazzle is free, but people who attend may also reserve “hot seats” where they can pay to be in a tent, with heat, and enjoy hot chocolate and cider.
People may choose from the Drummer boy tent or the Rein
deer tent. You must reserve your seats online, and you will receive your tickets in the mail. The parade is an event that consists of a number of floats that all have specific themes.
All of these floats are also entirely lit up by Christmas lights. Floats typically have a large number of people on or in them. They also play music during the parade, typically Christmas music.
Examples of floats that have been in the past are Santa and his reindeer, Pinocchio, and a Zoo.
“I’ve been going every year with my parents, brothers, and grandma, ever since I was a toddler,” sophomore Meghan Mandel said. The parade has been around since 1992, making it 21 years, this year.
“I was a part of the parade in college,” English teacher Kyle Ann Herring said. “I was in choir at the U, and we sang in the parade. It was a blast.”
According to an interview with the Star Tribune, “There will not be a [2014] Holidazzle,” downtown Minneapolis’ council vice president of events and marketing Leah Wong said. There will only be eight parades as opposed to last year having 19 parades.
“I’ve never been to the Holidazzle but I’ve heard it’s really fun,” freshman Tori Andrews said. Tori just moved to Minnesota from Florida in August.
“We don’t have anything like the Holidazzle in Florida but we do have smaller festivities,” Andrews said.
According to CBS, the Holidazzle has attracted an average of 400,000 visitors to the downtown area in the past 21 years.
“It’s been a family tradition of ours since I was little,” Mandel said. This is the case for others as well.
“My favorite thing about the Holidazzle is the brisk air and everyone is so happy and cheery even though they are freezing their butts off,” Herring said.
“The thing I love about the Holidazzle is being with my family and going out to eat downtown. It also helps get everyone in the Christmas spirit,” Mandel said.