Record Crowd Celebrates The Holidazzle's 20th Anniversary

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The twentieth anniversary of the Holidazzle Parade kicked off Friday night in downtown Minneapolis, and the weather was so nice you didn't even need to sit in the "hot seat."

The temperature was a mild 51 degrees when the fireworks started above the restaurant Vincent at 6:30 p.m.

Organizers said due to the weather and a couple of new additions, Friday night's crowd was in the top five of all time in terms of numbers.

Katie Marquardt was one of the many who went to see the parade.

"It's always been fun, and now that my kids are old enough, we are letting them come and see it first-hand," Marquardt said.

In 1992, a group of people wanted to get shoppers excited about coming downtown. The Holidazzle is what they came up with. Twenty seasons later the floats, the lights and the costumes still draw a huge crowd. This year's new additions include a gingerbread house that hands out cookies and hot chocolate and two life-sized snow globes in which groups can take pictures.

"This is all free. There is also an area for kids to make buttons as well as a family photo opportunity," said Leah Wong of the Minneapolis Downtown Council.

The Holidazzle will run at night Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 18. There are more than 300 volunteers in costume for every Holidazzle parade.

Commemorative buttons are also being sold in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the event. You can get them at Holidazzle.com.

Can't get enough Holidazzle?

Then click here to watch all of WCCO's parade coverage.

Or, click here to see the slide show.