Publication:West Central Tribune; Date:Oct 12, 2006; Section:Front page; Page Number:A1

WHAT’S ON TAP? This year’s event includes reindeer for petting, musical entertainment, food and wares vendors, and the traditional parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The setting will include 400 luminaries funded by donations to the American Cancer Society and decorated by school-age children.

NEW DATE, SAME OLD FUN

Holidaze events and parade pushed back to Nov. 18 to coincide with the downtown open house before Christmas, to allow children to participate on non-school night

By David Little davidl@wctrib.com

WILLMAR — Children’s activities, live reindeer and a parade are among the events being planned for the fifth annual Holidaze celebration on Nov. 18 in downtown Willmar.

Holidaze organizers have moved the day of the parade and related events from Tuesday to Saturday to coincide with the downtown open house before Christmas and to provide time for families and children to participate in evening activities on a non-school night.

The parade and related events are being organized for the first time by the Willmar Design Center. The parade was previously organized by the Willmar news media, but the media are still considered to be major sponsors of the event, say Beverly Dougherty, Design Center project coordinator, and Ranae Rahn, a member of the Design Center’s marketing committee.

“We looked at taking over the Holidaze parade event as an opportunity to bring more people downtown and to get more excitement going in the downtown area,’’ said Rahn. “It’s good for all of us. It’s good for the retailers down here as well as the service people. It’s good for the whole community.’’

Dougherty and Rahn gave a report on Holidaze preparations at the Design Center’s monthly board meeting Wednesday morning.

The celebration begins at 3 p.m. with activities for children at The Barn Theatre.

There will be two live reindeer for petting on Becker Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets; warming stands will be available; and the Design Center will sell coffee and cocoa.

Musical entertainment will be provided at various locations; and vendors will be selling food and wares on the street or in Heritage Centrepoint Mall (weather depending).

A total of 400 luminaries, funded by donations to the American Cancer Society and decorated by school children, will be placed by Chief Kandiyohi at the Kandiyohi County Courthouse, at Selvig Park and on Fourth Street Southwest near the Kandiyohi County Office Building.

The chili supper at Bethel Lutheran Church, with musical entertainment provided by Terry Shaw, will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. at Selvig Park.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. Parade units will gather at the Willmar Education and Arts Center and proceed north on Fourth Street to Litchfield Avenue, then west for one block, and then south on Fifth Street to the Education and Arts Center.

Dougherty said 54 units participated in last year’s parade. Rahn said two traveling trophies will be awarded for the first time this year: one for the best decorated storefront, and one for the best parade float.

Rahn said area festivals have been invited to send floats to the parade, and Benson and Clara City, as well as Willmar Fests, have said they’ll participate.

A post-parade party will be at Northern Grounds.Dougherty and Rahn said “lighted treats’’ will be given to the children at the Design Center information booth, and elves will be passing out programs.

Tribune file photos ABOVE: Jayme Moten, dressed as the Grinch, left, and McKenzie Knight, dressed as one of Santa’s elves, are shown during the Holidaze Parade in this Nov. 19, 2003, file photo. Holidaze organizers have moved this year’s parade and events to Nov. 18 in an effort to coincide with the downtown open house before Christmas and to provide time for families and children to participate in activities on a non-school night.

ABOVEGiggles, left, Wiggles and Jiggles the clowns participate Nov. 17, 2004, in the Holidaze parade.