Hundreds turn out for holiday spectacles
A lit up float in the parade. Photo by Clare Cade
Friday, Nov. 16 marked the 60th annual Christmas City of the North Parade. Held on Superior St. in downtown Duluth, hundreds of parade-goers turned out to enjoy the festivities.
A traffic advisory went into effect as a result of 13 blocks of Superior Street being closed off for the parade, from 9th Avenue East to 4th Avenue West.
Dancers from the Duluth Dance Center lined up to take their place in the parade. Photo by Clare Cade
High school bands from all over the northland participated in the parade, as well as the UMD pep band. A variety of decorated floats, performers, and music entertained the people lining the streets as well.
The U.S. Olympic curling team led the parade as this year’s Grand Marshalls. The team won gold in the 2017 Winter Olympics. After the curling team came members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the 148th Fighter Wing National Guard.
With temperatures in the low 20’s, everyone was bundled from head to toe to watch the parade as a light snow fell.
Carra Mackey, a Duluth resident and UMD student, said that she has been attending the holiday parade for about a decade.
The 2018 Bentleyville tree. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Kottke
“It’s one of my favorite parts of the season,” she said. “It really puts you into the holiday spirit, and it’s a great way to kick off Bentleyville.”
The Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” had its opening night on Saturday, Nov. 17. According to the Bentleyville website, guests are invited to stroll under the glow of over 5 million lights in a 20-acre park situated on the shores of Lake Superior, while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and roasted marshmallows.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the annual holiday spectacle.
Bentleyville is open until Dec. 26.
A recap of the Christmas City of the North Parade is available on the KBJR website for anyone who may have missed the event or would simply like to relive the experience.