Category: Howell Fantasy of Lights Parade

Well, the festivities are over, but what a fabulous evening at the Howell Fantasy of Lights Parade!  One thing that makes this parade so unique is that it happens after dark, so the floats (and the marching bands!) are all lit up with holiday lights, creating a unique experience for everyone!

Enjoy the photos…it was a super event, but next year, make sure you get there to see it for yourself!

A float from the parade...

Don't the floats look different when they are lit up?

 

 

 

A beautiful entry...

Another lit-up float in the parade

The Five Sparrow mobile office at night! I think we need some lights for next year!

It’s about 5 p.m. now, but the fun has already started here at the Howell Fantasy of Lights Parade!  The parade officially kicks off at 7 p.m., but there’s lots to see and do before then.  For instance, have you ever seen LIVE reindeer?  Well – they have them here!

Santa's Elf Watching the Reindeer

Getting Ready for the Parade

And what is a parade without floats?  Here are some shots of the staging area, where all the participating floats are getting ready for their big debut…

Ready to Go! Almost....

It’s only a little after 3 p.m., but what to my wondering eyes should appear?  Yep – Santa is here at the Fantasy of Lights parade in Howell!  Since his sleigh is parked right beside the Five Sparrows mobile office, we have a great view of Santa talking to the kids, too! 

Santa in his sleigh

And when Santa is not busy visiting with the kids, he merrily walks to the corner and waves to the cars going by on Grand River Avenue!  Some of the parents even pull over to the curb, let the kids jump out to give ‘ol Santa a hug, then buckle them back up and continue on their way!

Here is Santa waving to the kids, right in front of the Five Sparrows mobile office!

Santa waving to the kids - in front of the Five Sparrows mobile office!

The activity is picking up along Grand River Ave. in Howell as more people make their way into the downtown area, and also as the vendors start setting up their “booths” to be a part of the fun today at the Fantasy of Lights Parade.

Vendors set up their "booths" along Grand River Ave.

New to the event this year is St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, who is raffling off a very cool victorian dollhouse as part of a fundraiser for the church.    

New Addition This Year

Back for the 9th year in a row is Joe Pasko of PJ’s Hot Dogs, who is here with his “Mobile Food Establishment” featuring the “hots” – hot dogs and hot chocolate!  It’s pretty cold outside now, and the temperature is expected to fall some more as evening approaches.  But that’s okay with Joe, since he says that hot chocolate is always a great seller in the cold weather!

An "Old Pro" Sets Up Shop

So even though it’s only about 1:30 p.m. and the parade doesn’t start for another five hours or so, there are already plenty of new friends and familiar faces to see as the activity continues to pick up in Howell…

Later this afternoon, we will share some of the free entertainment happening before the parade begins!

It’s just about 11 a.m. and the parade preparations are continuing…Volunteers are working on getting the Grand Stand set up and decorated for the main event tonight.   Also, Santa’s sleigh has arrived, and I heard that Santa himself will be making an appearance later this afternoon/evening to visit with kids of all ages.

Volunteers Set Up the Grand Stand on the Parade Route

Santa's Sleigh

Most of the roads are still open to traffic, and there are a lot more people out walking around downtown Howell now than there were earlier this morning.  But the formerly empty parking spaces lining the side streets are filling up pretty fast, and the line of chairs serving as place holders for spectators continues to grow along Grand River Avenue.

The line of chairs continues to expand down Grand River Avenue

Stay tuned, the excitement is growing…