Holidazzle festival returns to Downtown – The Minnesota Daily

Holidazzle returns to Minneapolis at Nicollet Mall between December 18-22 with live entertainment, free roller skating, visits from Santa, a pub crawl, an 18-foot Yeti statue and more.

The Holidazzle festival, previously held in Loring Park for nearly a decade, will now be held on Nicollet Mall between 6th Street and 11th Street. The celebration was canceled last year due to lack of funding, according to Fox 9.

Community Director at Mpls Downtown Council Meghan Gustafson Gingerich said this year’s Holidazzle festivities have many entertainment options such as Nur-D, singers from the Minnesota Chorale and the Vikings SKOL line.

“We have a very robust entertainment program,” Gustafson Gingerich said. “It’s quite exciting. Our opening ceremony is on the 18th and it will be a very special kickoff for the festival.”

In addition to live entertainment, Gustafson Gingerich said other events include daily roller skating, visits with Santa, Thursday night silent disco, Friday night drag bingo and Friday and Saturday night karaoke. All of these events are free with no tickets required, added Gustafson Gingerich.

“We want to have the community come out and participate and make sure everyone can access our event,” Gustafson Gingerich said.

James Adams, founder of Twin Cities Skaters, one of the vendors at Holidazzle, said there is a lot of anticipation and excitement to see this year’s because it was canceled last year. Although the Twin Cities Skaters have been involved with Holidazzle before, Adams said he looks forward to operating indoors at City Center.

“We’re making the skate available to the people for free, so it’s just another one of our services that we love to do, and just give people access to roller skating, have a good time,” Adams said.

Holidazzle offers local vendors to set up shop downtown and local restaurants to participate in the Peppermint Pub Crawl, according to Gustafson Gingerich. The pub crawl requires a $25 per person ticket purchase to participate.

James Perovich, who handles creative and marketing at Excelsior Candles Co., said he and owner Heidi Mueller are excited to join other vendors in this year’s Holidazzle festivities for the first time.

“Excelsior Candles loves being a part of the markets and is very connected in the maker community,” said Perovich.

Shoppers can expect holiday-themed candles, including mistletoe, Santa’s bubble bath, balsam and cedar, as well as some non-seasonal bestsellers like lavender vanilla, according to Perovich. She added that the candles are made from soy and recycled materials.

Gustafson Gingerich said the Nicollet Mall area offers more indoor options for Minnesotans to enjoy. Some of the live entertainment events take place indoors on the Crystal Court inside the IDS Center or on the US Bank outdoor stage.

“When you’re producing an event, the kind of scale and scope of Holidazzle, and you’re moving it to a new location, you really have to learn the space, figure out where the power is,” Gustafson Gingerich said. “We’re very fortunate that the properties along Nicollet have been really good at embracing this as well as the bars and restaurants.”

Holidazzle brings the community together

Adams said it has been challenging to prepare for this year’s event after having a year off, especially making sure they provide enough skates for the possible high turnout. However, Adams added that it is good to be part of a joint effort to create a fun atmosphere for others.

“It’s going to be all hands on deck in high gear, but you know, it’s also the most fun,” Adams said.

Discounted parking and free public transportation are also available to Minnesotans during the events. Gustafson Gingerich added that accessibility has been a major focus in organizing this year’s Holidazzle.

Perovich said having community events that bring together different types of vendors and small businesses in town is important because it allows those organizations to form connections and offer support to each other.

“It’s really about building those relationships and what then turns into friendships because it’s hard to just go at it on your own,” Perovich said.

Adams said it’s important to offer a completely free and accessible event to the community to help promote a fun activity that everyone can enjoy.

“The availability of it,” Adams said. “It’s something we’re really proud of and we’re going to grow as a brand and we’re becoming a local household name.”

Despite the cold weather, Gustafson Gingerich said it’s important to celebrate Minneapolis and bring the community together to explore downtown.

“It’s really important,” Gustafson Gingerich said. “For us to bring people down here and (they) see that it’s alive and it’s safe and there’s a lot going on down here.”