The following article was written for the Art Forward series by Jason Prigge of Coolest Coast Manitowoc County and Vagabond Creative Studio.
A Lakeshore Holiday tradition, the Lakeshore Holiday Parade, was cancelled in 2020 due to the global pandemic. That is the first time in its history that the parade was not held. This year, 2021, we celebrate the 33rd Annual Lakeshore Holiday Parade. The tradition was launched in 1989 by the newly elected Mayor, Kevin Crawford. That very first parade was a modest and quickly organized affair, with approximately 8 vehicles represented. Mostly municipal vehicles including a firetruck, ambulance, squad car, DPW snow plow, etc. And thus, a beloved holiday tradition was born!
The Lakeshore Holiday Parade is held on the evening before Thanksgiving on the streets of downtown Manitowoc. The date was chosen specifically to coordinate with the illumination of the downtown holiday decorations and kick-off to the holiday shopping season, further infusing downtown Manitowoc with the first glow of the holidays. Viewers are dazzled by the spectacular floats and the first official visit from that Jolly ‘ole elf himself, yep, that one.
Nostalgia, hearkening back to Christmases of yore, has been a common theme over the years for the floats in the parade, and is truly a crowd pleaser.
This year promises to be a year to remember for sure. Since we missed the parade in 2020, we will get an extra special year, which will include entertainment and the annual float competition. Winners are recognized in various categories including Best of Parade, Judges’ Choice and Holiday Spirit, with the winner of Best of Parade getting to host Santa Claus in the proceeding year’s parade.
Jeremy Haese, owner of Silarian Vineyards, has an ambitious float planned that is taking the nostalgia theme to its peak. He expressed that he wanted to create a float with an element of intentional movement. The result is impressive! He is constructing what he calls a “traditional” style float, complete with a motorized “ice rink” carousel in the center with Santa’s Elves (picture in your mind the old-style department store window elves). These elves will spin around the rink making merry with wineglasses and toasting a Merry Christmas wish to all parade goers. The messaging on the side of the float will read “Spreading Holiday ‘Cheers’.”
To create this entertaining holiday spectacle required carpentry, skirting, lights, decorations and motorization, in addition to creatively solving how to build the float out at Silarian Vineyards and safely transporting it to the parade route on parade night. Jeremy Haese, put a significant amount of thought, planning, creativity and execution into his nostalgic masterpiece. Jeremy stated, “The hardest part was figuring out the movement.” The eureka moment came on a trip to Fleet Farm when he spied a rotisserie motor. Like they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Or, in this case, the Santa Claus of invention. Look for the Silarian Vineyards float as it progresses down Washington and 8th Streets among the 80 total Lakeshore Holiday Parade entries.
The 33rd Annual Lakeshore Holiday Parade takes place in downtown Manitowoc on the night before Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, 2021 at 6:30pm. A replay of the parade will be available for viewing starting Thanksgiving Day on coolestcoast.com.
