Nothing like a Lake City Christmas
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 7 years, 1 month AGO
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press Fireworks erupt over Lake Coeur d’Alene as tens of thousands watch from the shore on Friday at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Holiday Light Show.
Abby Sorensen, 5, looks after her candle during the Holiday Light Show Opening Ceremony Friday night at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.
LOREN BENOIT/PressJaycee George, 6, smiles as Santa makes his way down the Holiday Parade route.
LOREN BENOIT/PressSanta waves to parade spectators from a decorated vintage fire truck.
LOREN BENOIT/PressMickey and Minnie Mouse hitch a ride down the Holiday Parade Route.
LOREN BENOIT/PressThe Blazen Divaz dance down the Holiday Parade route Friday night.
LOREN BENOIT/PressAngels aboard The Downtown Church float smile at the crowd during the Holiday Parade on Friday.
LOREN BENOIT/PressSpectators watch the Holiday Parade on Sherman Avenue Friday night.
LOREN BENOIT/PressThe Brock Family, from Coeur d'Alene, light holiday candles as they wait for the Coeur d'Alene Resort Holiday Lights Show firework display Friday night.
LOREN BENOIT/PressThe Coeur d'Alene Resort Carolers sing traditional Christmas carols to tens of thousands on The Resort's front lawn Friday night at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Holiday Light Show.
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — A mass of people surged across The Coeur d'Alene Resort lawn after the last twinkling of fireworks faded from the sky Friday evening.
Two individuals, clad in exceptionally festive Christmas sweaters, made their way west on Sherman Avenue as the crowds began to clear at the close of the 2017 Holiday Light Show Opening Ceremony.
"It was spectacular," said Adam Grinstead of Athol, whose sweater depicted Santa Claus riding a T.Rex.
"I'm always surprised by the finale," said his wife, Jordyn. "I never expect it to be as crazy as it is. It's pretty awesome."
The fireworks show is a gift Duane and Lola Hagadone and their family present to the community each year.
Prior to the stunning 10-minute pyrotechnic extravaganza that prompted gasps of joy and cries of delight, the 30,000 merrymakers gathered throughout downtown Coeur d'Alene to celebrate the start of the Christmas season with the 26th annual Lighting Ceremony Parade.
"Santa Claus is my favorite," Sierra Tancrey, 18, of Rathdrum, said with a giggle while waiting for the parade to start.
"I just love seeing the people come down and come together as a community to watch it," said Sierra's best friend Jennifer Moser, 16, of Rathdrum.
Organized by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, this year's parade, with the theme of "O Christmas Tree," boasted 45 entries that included familiar favorites and some new faces.
Members of high school bands rocked Santa hats and lights on their instruments as they filled the air with Christmas tunes, law enforcement cruisers lit up the night with their reds and blues and several select canines wore their holiday best as their people waved to the thousands of parade-goers lining the route.
"You can feel the energy of the city downtown during this event," said Emily Boyd, Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association events coordinator. "It just builds on the community that Coeur d'Alene already has."
Following the festively fun parade, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Carolers shared their barbershop-quartet singing talent with the masses on The Resort plaza and lawn as they performed classics such as "Joy to the World," "Deck the Halls" and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."
The candles that were handed out during the parade were then lit as everyone sang "Silent Night."
"This is our 31st annual lighting ceremony kick-off," said Brad Hagadone, president of Hagadone Corp. "It's hard to believe 31 years."
He said all those years ago, the first show consisted of "a fire engine truck with the ladder up and I think a total of 100 lights on it and a few carolers."
Then Hagadone Corp. Chief Financial Officer Mont Garman led the countdown to illuminate the more than 1.5 million lights, which now shine for the 2017 holiday season in downtown Coeur d'Alene.
