Parade of Lights
A downtown celebration that is not to be missed.
The Parade of Lights has been heralding in the official start of the holiday season and brightening the eyes of children since 1992. Here's how it started.
For centuries, cultures have held celebrations to brighten the dark corners of the winter months of each year. The ancient Romans had Saturnalia to celebrate the god Saturn. It was a time of feast and gift giving in which Servants were waited on by their masters to spread liberty and the mirth of the season. The Germanic people had Yule to celebrate the god Odin. A large tree was cut down and brought to the town square where celebration would continue for as long as the tree burned. Some of these traditions were absorbed by Christians wanting to brighten the dark months with a mass for the Christ child.
While we start seeing the first little bothersome indications of the holiday season around Halloween, most prefer to hold back their merriment until after Thanksgiving. It is at this point that it is finally safe to turn on the twinkling lights without fear of contempt from one’s neighbors.
To help kick off the holiday season in the Sioux Falls area, Main Street Sioux Falls created the Parade of Lights. Each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, starting at 7:30, people line Phillips Avenue from 14th Street to 5th to share a warm cup of cocoa and take in the procession of lights, dancing, and music presented by volunteers. Mirth and joy to follow.
The first Parade of Lights occurred on November 27, 1992. Being the parade’s first year, some kinks needed to be worked out of the system. The parade started at 7 o’clock for this time only. There were 23 entries and eight sponsors. The parade route went from 13th Street to 8th, ending at the Holiday Inn City Centre, where to this day, the parade winners are announced and holiday treats can be enjoyed by anyone in attendance.
While we start seeing the first little bothersome indications of the holiday season around Halloween, most prefer to hold back their merriment until after Thanksgiving. It is at this point that it is finally safe to turn on the twinkling lights without fear of contempt from one’s neighbors.
To help kick off the holiday season in the Sioux Falls area, Main Street Sioux Falls created the Parade of Lights. Each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, starting at 7:30, people line Phillips Avenue from 14th Street to 5th to share a warm cup of cocoa and take in the procession of lights, dancing, and music presented by volunteers. Mirth and joy to follow.
The first Parade of Lights occurred on November 27, 1992. Being the parade’s first year, some kinks needed to be worked out of the system. The parade started at 7 o’clock for this time only. There were 23 entries and eight sponsors. The parade route went from 13th Street to 8th, ending at the Holiday Inn City Centre, where to this day, the parade winners are announced and holiday treats can be enjoyed by anyone in attendance.
Bill Medinger works on the float for Best Business Products ahead of the 1992 parade.
Irene Batchelder was chairwoman of the event. She’d brought the idea from a similar event in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where her daughter and her family lived. In 1988, Batchelder had seen the Idaho Falls parade, which had 20 floats. Four years later, the floats in the event had to be limited to 100. Sioux Falls’ parade has enjoyed a similar explosion of interest; in just a few years, it went from an interesting idea to an solid tradition.
The first year of the parade, an estimated 10,000 people attended the event. Over the years, the estimates have gone as high as 100,000, but usually range between 40,000 and 60,000, providing the weather is not miserable. Even when the weather is miserable, the event is well attended.
Many years have had themes, including “Holiday Visions”, “Memories of Holiday Past”, “A Child’s Holiday”, and others. Some years the theme was omitted and participants could let their imaginations run wild.
The first year of the parade, an estimated 10,000 people attended the event. Over the years, the estimates have gone as high as 100,000, but usually range between 40,000 and 60,000, providing the weather is not miserable. Even when the weather is miserable, the event is well attended.
Many years have had themes, including “Holiday Visions”, “Memories of Holiday Past”, “A Child’s Holiday”, and others. Some years the theme was omitted and participants could let their imaginations run wild.
Santa is welcomed to Sioux Falls in 2013.
In 2007, Avera was recognized as a major sponsor, and the event was called The Avera Parade of Lights. This caused a bit of discord, and ill feelings were expressed regarding commercialism in the holiday season. Daniel Statema, executive director of Main Street Sioux Falls, was quick to point out that Avera didn’t request naming rights, but they were given by Main Street Sioux Falls in appreciation. In 2012, the naming shifted to CenturyLink, but since that year, there has not been a company name preceding it.
In 2019, the Parade of Lights theme was “At the Movies” to honor the 2020 reopening of the State Theatre. Imagine a lighted Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert rolling down Phillips offering their thumbs to the delighted eyes of onlookers.
The Parade of Lights has served since 1992 to usher in the holiday season for the Sioux Falls community. An event to brighten the darkest days of the year and to bring joy and wonder the eyes of children. I hope it never ceases to perform this vital task.
In 2019, the Parade of Lights theme was “At the Movies” to honor the 2020 reopening of the State Theatre. Imagine a lighted Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert rolling down Phillips offering their thumbs to the delighted eyes of onlookers.
The Parade of Lights has served since 1992 to usher in the holiday season for the Sioux Falls community. An event to brighten the darkest days of the year and to bring joy and wonder the eyes of children. I hope it never ceases to perform this vital task.
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