Crowds gather along Central Avenue in Faribault before Saturday’s parade. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
ON SATURDAY EVENING, with the temp at a balmy 45 degrees, crowds gathered in the heart of downtown Faribault for fireworks followed by a holiday parade as part of my city’s Winterfest celebration. Without snow and with such warmth, this felt nothing like weeks before Christmas in southern Minnesota. Yet, I wasn’t complaining. I’d rather be warm than cold.
A festive street scene 1 1/2 blocks off Central Avenue near The Depot Bar & Grill. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
That meant wearing long johns under my jeans, winter boots, a stocking cap and mittens, and a hooded sweatshirt under a lighter weight jacket (not the down-filled parka I initially thought I needed). I was prepared to stave off the evening chill while waiting.
We sat really close to the fireworks launch site. Here, fireworks glitter as they fall from the sky, surrounding a bare tree. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
Randy and I did lots of waiting. First for the fireworks to start (it was our choice to arrive early) and then during the parade (as lengthy gaps between units persisted). We even left early given the delays.
Against the backdrop of a festive storefront, families wait for the parade to begin. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
Aside from the waiting, the fireworks and Parade of Lights on Central proved wonderful. Festive and uplifting. There’s something about gathering to watch a parade that creates a true sense of community. Throngs crowded the edges of Central Avenue, leaving a single lane for vehicles, floats and parade participants to work their way through our historic downtown.
As the massive Faribault Fire Department ladder truck passes, the boy on the right holds his light-up cowboy hat and waves. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
Kids not only watched the parade, but also participated, as shown here. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
All bundled up to watch the parade from the comfort of a stroller. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
I love watching the kids. There’s magic in their enthusiasm. There’s magic in the way they scramble for candy and jump up and down. They exude pure joy.
The oversized snowman is a parade staple. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
The magic of Whoville came to Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
The Grinch and Max share the love. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
You can’t help but feel happiness surging along the street as music and holiday lights and costumed characters all create a festive mood. Santa, the Grinch with Max his dog, a chubby snowman, an oversized gingerbread boy…I saw all of them and considered how these characters make us smile in the dark of December. Even as an adult, I still very much love the Grinch, who was transformed from mean to loving and caring. That gives me hope.
To the far left in this scene, a bundled up baby sleeps while the Sno-Go Club parade unit passes by. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
A boy standing near me got a free light-up cowboy hat. He wore it sometimes, sometimes not. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
A shopkeeper and his dog at the parade. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
Glo sticks ringed necks. Freebie cowboy hats flashed atop heads. Babies bundled in snowsuits slept. Kids waited and watched. Youth danced and waved and smiled.
Fire on one float… (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
…and ice on another, from River City Refrigeration. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
I especially enjoyed the contrast of fire and ice in two parade units. One featured a fire pit, the other what I can only assume was dry ice. They were decidedly creative, a switch-up from masses of holiday lights, inflatables and standard holiday decorations.
The parade unit of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was all about light. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2024)
Unit by unit, person by person, the parade lit a path along Central Avenue, shining the light of the holidays upon everyone watching. Light. The lights of happiness and joy and love and hope and a feeling that, despite our differences, we are all alike. Craving light. Needing light. Immersing ourselves in the light of community on a December evening in Faribault.
One of 64 decorated trees in the Adopt-A-Tree program in Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
AS I WATCHED THE LIVE TV broadcast last week of the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York City, I, for a brief moment, wished I could be there. The pulse of the music, the enthusiasm of the crowd, the coming together in a singular celebration drew me in. But then I realized how much I would dislike the pounding music, the pressing crowds, the feeling of being hemmed in by skyscrapers.
Nona Boyes creates particularly interesting and lovely window displays at her shop, Keeper’s Antiques. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
I much prefer the small town celebrations of southern Minnesota. The lighted holiday parades, the fireworks, the concerts, the holiday boutiques, the festive window displays, neighborhoods ablaze in decorative lights, even the blow-up Santas and reindeer and snowmen that, by morning, deflate in heaps of folded plastic.
Donated and decorated trees line the sidewalks of Faribault’s Central Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
Already I’ve attended several holiday events. That includes Winterfest in Faribault where, at Central Park, children and parents lined up Friday evening for photos with The Grinch. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” ranks as a favorite animated film with its message that Christmas joy is found in each other, not in material possessions and holiday busyness. As I observed the waiting families, I wondered how many kids actually recognized The Grinch and might even have felt a bit scared of the kinda scary looking green guy. Yet, kids and parents and grandparents pressed together, connecting in memory-defining moments.
Sixty-four trees were set up in Central Park for the Adopt-A-Tree program. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
Next to the small tent sheltering The Grinch, I grabbed a bag of complimentary popcorn (and later a cup of hot chocolate) before heading along the park sidewalks to see the 64 lighted and decorated trees in the Adopt-A-Tree program. Organizations, businesses and others purchase and decorate artificial trees displayed in the park and then given to families in need. The creativity and generosity impress me as this program continues to grow each December.
More of those 64 trees to be given to families in need. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
On this evening, when fires blazed in barrels and attendees rode around the block in a horse-drawn wagon and youth sang, I felt a strong sense of togetherness.
Love in multiple languages on a Virtues Trail sign. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo August 2018)
I felt the same on Saturday while watching fireworks along The Virtues Trail, a city-owned trail lined with affirmative messages on posts. As Randy and I waited in the cold for the show to begin, we visited with friends Dave and Tammy and made new friends with a Mankato couple dining at the nearby Depot restaurant. I welcomed them to Faribault. Again, I felt the joy that comes in connecting, in conversation, in sharing a moment in time.
Local ice carver Adam Scholljegerdes carved Faribault’s symbol, a fleur-de-lis, for Winterfest. It’s located at the corner of Central Avenue and Fourth Street/Minnesota Highway 60 in the heart of downtown Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
Soon fireworks burst into the dark night sky against the backdrop of the historic viaduct. Sparkles and glitter and bold booms and streams of color and light had me occasionally closing my eyes. Still, the experience, this gathering of people bundled in warm winter coats and stocking caps and scarves and mittens, brought us together on a December evening.
The single photo I took of the parade, because I wanted to be in the moment rather than taking photos. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
Afterwards, we joined the throngs walking two blocks to Central Avenue for the Parade of Lights. Crowds lined the downtown street in warm 30-degree temps for the 45-minute parade. I stood next to John and Laurie, there with their daughter and her family, including 18-month-old identical twin girls. Randy stood next to a drink-holding woman who’d spent time already at a bar. She was happy, shouting “Merry Christmas” to parade participants, gathering candy to give to Randy, keeping chocolate for herself. She was fun and generous and spirited.
“Barbershop” singers performed at a free community holiday concert on Sunday at the Faribault Evangelical Free Church. They included the Lakelanders Barbershop Chorus from Faribault, The Troubadours from Northfield and The Riverblenders Barbershop Chorus from Mankato. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo December 2023)
As I watched the parade, I, too, pocketed the occasional chocolate, waved, danced a bit, caught up in the moment. Randy dropped a circular green glow stick atop my stocking cap as The Grinch passed, one of many. Multiple Santas and kids and dogs and just a whole lot of parade participants spread holiday happiness. This, I thought, is what The Grinch felt—this happiness found not in stuff or in busyness, but in community.
Crowds gather along historic Central Avenue for the Parade of Lights as the sun sets.
While vehicles were banned from the parade route, one driver headed south on Central directly toward the parade just as it began. She was directed off the roadway.
Parked on a side street just off Central, this Chavis Vacuum & Sewing Center truck awaits the start of the parade.
Local merchants showcase the holiday spirit in window displays.
Large groups of people congregate outside Burkhartzmeyer Shoes for the parade. Co-owner Bruce Burkhartzmeyer served as parade grand marshal.
I especially delighted in the 20-minute holiday parade along Central Avenue in our historic downtown. As the sun slipped into darkness Saturday evening, families and others gathered to watch trucks and cars and floats roll by in bright holiday lights. Snowmen, penguins, elves, candy canes, Christmas trees and more incorporated into the units added holiday cheer. Kids scrambled for candy tossed by those dressed in festive attire.
This classic vintage pick-up truck decorated by Brushwork Signs rated as one of my favorite parade entries.
Students from Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault march in the parade, their holiday lights blurred by my camera shooting in too-low light conditions. Still, I like the results, showing motion.
Lots of snowmen on floats, but not a flake of snow on the ground.
Faribault’s sweet version of the Polar Express.
An oversized vacuum cleaner promotes as local vacuum cleaner store.
I loved this Parade of Lights, part of Faribault’s first-ever Winterfest which began on Thursday. And based on the crowds, they shared my enthusiasm. I could sense the excitement, heard the positive comments, felt the energy of a community embracing the joy of the season.
A Faribault fire truck follows police cars as a lead in the parade.
Kids await candy tossed from those walking alongside floats.
A city of Faribault snowplow ablaze in lights.
To those who organized this event (the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Faribault Main Street and local businesses) and to those who participated in the parade, thank you. You brought the Christmas spirit into the heart of our downtown, into our community, into the hearts of those gathered on a balmy December evening in southeastern Minnesota.
The back of the parade as it heads north along Central Avenue in downtown Faribault.
I expect the Parade of Lights to be back next year with even more entries and an even larger crowd.
Note: Check back for more stories featuring some of the holiday activities I enjoyed on Saturday in Faribault.
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