dis for upload

DISCOVER! | NOVEMBER 12, 2016
6| Community
KATE HARLOW | STAFF WRITER
Holiday Kickoff
Estherville starts celebrating the Christmas season Nov. 17
Christmas might be weeks away
but Estherville is getting ready
for the holiday season a little
early this year.
Once again this year, Estherville
will play host to its annual Parade
of Lights and Chocolate Walk. On
Thursday, Nov. 17, parents, children
and kids at heart, no matter their age,
will have something fun to enjoy.
From 4-7 p.m. downtown businesses
will open their doors and offer
sweet treats and great deals.
“We like to do this event on Thursday
night because that is our late night
shopping night where we encourage
people to come downtown and start
their holiday shopping. Stores will
have deals and specials and all will
have special treats for the holiday
season,” said Lexie Ruter, executive
director of the Estherville Chamber of
At a Glance:
WHAT: Estherville Parade of Lights
and Chocolate Walk
WHERE: Downtown Estherville
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 17
COST: Free
CONTACT: 712-362-3541
ONLINE: www.estherville.org
Commerce.
While shopping might not be high
on the list of fun things for the kiddos
to do, there is an event that is sure to
bring delight to their faces.
The Parade of Lights starts at 7 p.m.
and it will feature about 30 different
parade floats cruising through downtown
Estherville.
“The floats are all lit up and put
together by different businesses and
organizations. Iowa Lakes Electric always
does a huge float that’s all lit up.
They are always featured at the end of
the parade because their’s is always
so great,” Ruter said. “Every year we
have a different theme, so most of the
groups create something new every
year.”
This year’s theme is favorite holiday
activities.
Last year, the theme was favorite
holiday movies and there were lots of
Grinch and Elf floats. Iowa Lakes Electric
did a holiday Smurf float and they
had a giant illuminated mushroom,
all of the people on the float were
painted blue to hand out candy.
“It’s really a fun afternoon and
night for the whole family. The Chocolate
Walk is geared toward Mom and
Dad and the parade of lights is geared
toward the whole family,” Ruter said.
To officially kick off the Christmas
season there is a very special guest at
the parade.
Santa is the last float in the parade
and leads the crowd and kids to Library
Square to light up the big trees.
“The kids really enjoy it and it’s fun
to see it when they all go to Library
Square. It’s special when they light up
the square,” Ruter said.
The event is free to all and is set to
proceed no matter the weather conditions.
“We’ve done it all kinds of weather
— in snow, in cold, but it looks like
it’s going to be a decent day with
some nice weather for a change,”
Ruter said. F
Estherville | Iowa