MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Thursday is the one night of the year where you can drive through the center of Downtown Minneapolis and not get a ticket.

Nicollet Mall is usually reserved for buses, taxis and emergency vehicles, but tonight Minnesotans get the once-a-year opportunity to drive along the street themselves.

The street is lined with holiday decorations including 500,000 twinkle lights, 300 illuminated snowflakes and about 4,000 feet of natural garland.

The city said if you connected the strings end to end, they’d stretch 23 miles — to St. Paul and back.

The road will be open to all from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The speed limit is 10 miles-per-hour and drivers are not allowed to pass another vehicle or stop anywhere along the Mall.

City officials said to be sure to enter at either Washington Avenue or Grant Street if you want to take the drive.

The lights will stay lit up through the season for the Holidazzle Parade which starts on Friday Nov.  25 at 6:30 p.m.  The parade runs Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 18.