Complete with rosy cheeks and multiple layers of winter garb, children lining Third and Fourth streets Friday resembled the overdressed character Randy Parker from the popular holiday classic, “A Christmas Story.”
But the extra clothing didn’t appear to hinder the jumping up and down fueled by the youngsters’ excitement as the ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade promenaded through downtown International Falls.
“What’s important is to have fun and include children in the magic,” Faye Whitbeck, president of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce said of the effort. “Kids never forget the experience.”
The annual parade, part of Hometown Holiday Weekend in Borderland, officially kicked off the holiday season and Whitbeck gave the event two thumbs up.
“Overall, it was outstanding,” she said. “There were outstanding new and alumni entries for the parade.”
Of the about one dozen float entries that lit up the downtown streets, first place was awarded to a float designed by the local Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daisies; second place was awarded to Koochiching Economic Development Authority’s float; and a tie for third place was split between floats built by the Chamber’s Gizzard Girls and the Moose Lodge 1259.
The late Vickie Trask, who organized the first ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade more than two decades ago, spearheaded an event that Whitbeck says is on track to become better and better each year.
“I think we’re on our way to building the parade back to the caliber of the earlier years,” she said. “The chamber is so appreciative of the amount of work and investment that went into this year’s floats. There’s only so many top winners, but making a float is also making a memory.”
This was the third year the parade has taken on a new route from its starting point at Falls Lumber on Fourth Street to the chamber on Third Street.
“We will continue the new route next year,” Whitbeck said. “People like it and it includes more of the business district.”
Delays in this year’s parade were sparked by a float that had two of its sections break down early on Fourth Street, causing it to pull over creating a gap that slowed its movement.
“The Girl Scout float couldn’t really fill in because all those little legs of many little girls can only move so fast,” Whitbeck said. The gaps prompted some spectators to succumb to the cold – which was in the mid 20s – and head home early.
In addition to the parade, Friday also marked the second annual cutest pet contest.
This year’s winner was “Sassy,” a Yorkshire Terrier owned by Dixie Kalstad of the Falls.
“People are telling us they love this new feature of the Hometown Holiday Weekend,” Whitebeck said of the contest. “It really is so adorable. There were more contestants this year and there were more folks in the audience. The costumes on pets are so charming.”
Next year, Whitbeck said cutest pet entrants and their owners will be included in the parade.
Small Business Saturday
Weekend festivities continued on Small Business Saturday, a day set aside since 2010 between Black Friday and Cyber Monday to encourage shoppers to spend their holiday money at local mom-and-pop stores. In International Falls, Whitbeck said early retail reports were strong.
“Most retailers with whom we’ve visited say both Friday and Saturday saw higher traffic and great bottom lines,” she said. “Our geography and size remain a challenge. But it seems as though more people are owning our identity and are taking to heart the value of investing in our future.”
Nancy Imhof, of Masons on Main, said the weekend’s totals increased from last year at the same time.
“I think that it is something that is gradually building upon recognition and those that make the effort to shop locally are starting to associate with Small Business Saturday,” she said. “I think that social media is helping with awareness and I also think that it should be something that us, as small merchants, can and should expand on in our promotions and advertising.”
Whitbeck said the chamber continues to promote the area with reminders on what spending local means.
“Shop local so easily becomes cliché,” she said. “It takes a conscious effort to consider the effects of how your locally-earned dollars, when kept local, turn over and over in the community...About $68 of every $100 spent in a community, goes back into supporting the community.”
Robin Bjorkquist, event coordinator at Backus Community Center, said Saturday’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival attracted about 300-400 shoppers.
“We had a good selection of vendors who were happy with their sales,” she said. “Backus is pleased to be able to open our doors...to both showcase local crafters and artisans, as well as give residents another shop local opportunity.”
Overall, Whitbeck said the weekend proves holiday spirit is alive in the community.
“I was so very proud of our people over the weekend,” she said. “The bonds are so apparent as folks and their visiting family members moved about, sharing joy in the community. We want to be together – just look around on Hometown Holiday Weekend. You can see it and you can feel it.”
