Holidazzle returns to Minneapolis at Nicollet Mall between Dec. 18 and 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 at Nicollet Mall between 6th Street and 11th Street. The festivity was canceled last year due to a lack of funding, according to Fox 9.
Community Director at the Mpls Downtown Council Meghan Gustafson Gingerich said this year’s Holidazzle festivities has many entertainment opportunities like Nur-D, singers from the Minnesota Chorale and the Vikings SKOL line.
“We have a very robust entertainment schedule,” Gustafson Gingerich said. “It’s pretty exciting. Our opening ceremony is on the 18th, and that is going to be a really special kickoff to the festival.”
Besides live entertainment, Gustafson Gingerich said other events include daily roller skating, visits with Santa, Thursday night silent disco, drag bingo on Friday night, and karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights. All of these events are free with no tickets needed, Gustafson Gingerich added.
“We want to have the community come out and participate and make sure anybody 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. Though Twin Cities Skaters has been involved in Holidazzle before, Adams said he is looking forward to operating indoors at the City Center.
“We provide the skate free for the people, so it’s just another service of ours that we love to do and just give people access to the roller skating, have a good time,” Adams said.
Holidazzle offers local vendors to set up shop in the City Center 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 outreach at Excelsior Candles Co., said he and owner Heidi Mueller are excited to join other vendors in this year’s Holidazzle festivities for their first time.
“Excelsior Candles loves being a part of the markets and is very connected in the maker community,” Perovich said.
Shoppers can expect holiday-themed candles including Mistletoe, Santa’s Hot Tub, Balsam and Cedar, as well as some non-seasonal bestsellers like Lavender Vanilla, according to Perovich. She added 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 at Crystal Court inside the IDS Center or at the U.S. Bank outdoor stage.
“Whenever you produce an event, kind of a scale and scope of Holidazzle and you move it to a new location, you really have to learn the space, figure out where the power is,” Gustafson Gingerich said. “We are very fortunate that the properties along Nicollet have been really great to embrace this as well as the bars and restaurants.”
Holidazzle bringing 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 it is good to be a part of a community effort to create a fun atmosphere for others.
“It’s going to be all hands on deck all at high gear, but you know, that’s also the most fun too,” Adams said.
There are also discounted parking and free public transportation options available for Minnesotans during the events. Gustafson Gingerich added accessibility has been a big focus in organizing this year’s Holidazzle.
Perovich said it’s important to have community events that gather different types of vendors and small businesses in the city because it allows these 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 tough to just go at it on your own,” Perovich said.
Adams said it’s important to provide a totally free and accessible event for the community to help foster a fun activity for everyone to enjoy.
“The accessibility of it,” Adams said. “That’s something we’re really proud of and we get to grow as a brand and we’re becoming a local household name.”
Despite the cold weather, Gustafson Gingerich said it is 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 is vibrant, and it’s safe and there’s a lot happening down here.”
