Holiday Celebrations in Duluth, Minnesota

Festive is the word that describes holiday celebrations in Duluth, Minnesota. The visitor may choose from a wide variety of venues to enjoy the holidays.

Duluth's holiday celebrations begin on November 17 with the annual Christmas City of the North parade. This holiday tradition now in its 47th year brings resident and visitor alike out in the chill air. For those not willing to get cold, KBJR television, an NBC affiliate, broadcasts the event live from its viewing stand near Canal Park. The parade, though, is well worth braving the often freezing temperatures. Be sure you wear your winter warmies and maybe bring a blanket. Parades, floats, dance school ensembles, and much more await the spectator. If you walk far enough along the parade route you are sure to find someone vending hot cocoa or coffee. Of course, the parade is not over until Santa Claus makes his appearance toward the end. Make sure you arrive early to find a good place to park since an estimated 14,000 people come to view this yearly event. The parade starts at 6:30 at Canal Park and proceeds up to and along Superior Street.

This year, downtown store windows will be draped with red curtains until the evening of the parade. The Greater Duluth Downtown Council is promoting their "45 Days of Christmas" and on November 17 will pull back the drapes to show the dazzling displays in store windows.

On the weekend of November 18-19, the Junior League of Duluth sets up for their annual Festival of Trees. Besides the hand-decorated trees for which the Festival is named, over 100 crafters and vendors will be selling their holiday gift items. In the brand new Santa's Workshop, youngsters will be helped to make special gifts for loved ones, and Santa Claus himself will arrive for photos at 10 AM. Santa will have breakfast on Sunday morning with children who have purchased tickets to dine with him. In addition, the Junior League has an online auction this year with donated items both big and small. Some of their hand-decorated trees will be auctioned off as well as a $100 value gift certificate to the Duluth Area YMCA, three hours of we-do-it-for-you garden weeding by Greener Garden Gals (value $75), and several trip packages to places like the Cayman Islands ($6000 value) and Orlando, Florida, ($3500 value). If you go to the Festival, be sure to check out the Junior League's toffee. Over 900 pounds were sold last year! The Festival of Trees is located on the Lake Superior College campus, 2101 Trinity Road. All proceeds from the weekend holiday festivities go toward the Junior League's projects in the community and volunteer training.

Lorie Line, a gifted pianist, will grace the stage at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) for a November 24 holiday concert. Her 2006 Holiday Extravaganza: For Unto Us a Child Is Born, The Traditions of Christmas will begin at 7:30 PM.

Every weekend from November 24 to December 17, Fitger's Brewery Complex at 600 East Superior Street hosts "The Polar Express," an excursion by passenger train from the Fitger's Complex to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Once there, you will be entertained by Santa and Mrs. Claus and by a reading of the book that inspired the movie and this event. Then you return to the Fitger's Complex to enjoy hot chocolate and a campfire.

The College of St. Scholastica, northeastern Minnesota's "only independent private college" according to Wikipedia, has several holiday events scheduled for the Mitchell Auditorium. The first of these, "Franklin's Family Christmas Concert," is scheduled for November 25 at 1 PM. Franklin the turtle, from the children's book series, invites you to a musical theater production with singing, dancing, and audience participation. The cost is $18 per person and promises to be a delight to younger children.

On December 1, the College of St. Scholastica will present Katie McMahon who is billed as the "Voice of Riverdance." Her Celtic Christmas concert begins at 7 PM in the Mitchell Auditorium.

West Duluth invites visitors and residents alike to their Snowflake Festival which runs from November 30 to December 9. On November 30 at 6 PM, Santa will arrive on a fire truck to light the community Christmas tree and then spend some time reading to children at the library. Santa will show up again at Western State Bank on December 1 and at Lola's Coffee House Express on Grand Avenue and Bristol on December 9. December 3 is the day of the winter picnic and Kids' Snowflake Costume Contest. Food vendors will be there and free coffee and hot chocolate will be given out. Entertainment will be by local musical groups performing carols and songs of the holiday season.

December 10, meet the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra at the DECC at 3 PM for "The Sounds of Christmas Family Concert. Then, on December 13 at 7 PM, stop in at the Mitchell Auditorium at the College of St. Scholastica for a free Christmas concert.

If you have never seen "The Nutcracker", and even if you have, you should check out the Minnesota Ballet's performances on December 15-17 at the DECC. Beautiful sets and graceful ballet make this a holiday treat not to be missed.

Have you ever sung the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah?" The College of St. Scholastica has had a sing-along of the entire oratorio for the past 25 years, and invites anyone who desires to join their voices on December 19 at 7:30 PM at the Mitchell Auditorium.

Many lighting displays in Duluth are beautiful and the Duluth News Tribune, the local paper, usually publishes a list of must-see neighborhoods and individual displays. One that stands out year after year is Marcia Hale's display on Minnesota Point. This will be her eighth year and the lighting decorations get more and more beautiful. Expect to be serenaded throughout your time here by the music of Mannheim Steamroller. Ms. Hale's is a walk-through display, meant to be savored. Walk under twelve lit arches, wonder at the 24 foot tall fountain and the 26 foot tall castle, both in lights. Your path is lit by ice candles on either side as a Star Fairy, Snowflake Fairy, and Sugarplum Fairy look down at you from their perch in the 50 foot tall pines. Everywhere you look, there is something to see. When you have drunk in your fill of the exquisite lighting effects, visit the garden house where Ms. Hales has hot apple cider and cookies waiting for you. Make sure you sign the guest register, and maybe make a donation to the City of Duluth Animal Shelter which Ms. Hales supports with this display.

If you are in Duluth on New Year's Eve you might want to head to the DECC with your dancing shoes on. The DECC is the site for SMDC's (St. Mary's Hospital/Duluth Clinic) yearly party. Three big rooms with bands, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, and free champagne at midnight make this the place to be the night before 2007 takes the stage.

This is just a sampling of the holiday events and attractions that Duluth, Minnesota, has to offer. Come visit.