Stroll into the holiday season

Christmas season arrives in Red Wing at a family-friendly pace. The Holiday Stroll is held each year on the day after Thanksgiving.

The eighth annual event is set for Nov. 27, starting with live music, business specials and other activities - including a decorating competition in store windows downtown and registration for a window full of gifts. There's even a medallion hunt, and reindeer will visit.

Santa doesn't just come to Red Wing. He arrives in a parade of lighted units - about 25 floats, marching groups and more, all illuminated for the occasion. The parade marches down Bush and Third streets at 6 p.m.

Afterward, lighting ceremonies are held at 6:45 p.m. and all the lights outlining buildings and decorating downtown parks are turned on. A special tree on Barn Bluff is lighted, and fireworks are set off from nearby bluffs.

Throughout downtown, visitors see costumed carolers and high school musicians. Wagon rides are available at the library, and there typically is a live Nativity scene nearby.

A variety of foods designed to warm the body as well as the spirit - hot chocolate, hot dogs, hot chili, plus roasted chestnuts, cookies, kettle corn and more - are available. In addition to street vendors, local merchants also serve treats.

Another place to visit is the Red Wing Elks Club, which gets a head start on the celebrating by serving a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m.

Visitors are invited to join local folk in bundling up their families and coming downtown to enjoy the sights and sounds and wonderful smells of the holiday season. In 2007, downtown Red Wing welcomed between 8,000 and 10,000 people to the Stroll.

"That's what this is all about," said Nancy Knudsen, leader of the group that established the Stroll. "It's about bringing families together downtown to enjoy each other and the community."

Go online to www.RedWingHolidayStroll.com for more details.

Tags: community guide, things to do