Holiday Light Show tonight

COEUR d'ALENE - It's being billed by the providers as one of the best shows to date.

Remember to get there early.

The 2011 Coeur d'Alene Resort Holiday Light Show is ready to launch at 6 tonight. The Holiday Light Show lighting ceremony begins an hour earlier at 5 p.m. with a downtown parade along Sherman Avenue, starting at Eighth and Sherman and continuing to Independence Point.

Around 30,000 spectators are expected, so if revelers want a choice spot to view the festivities, come down a bit earlier.

"This will be one of the best shows in many years that I have been involved," said David Kilmer, Hagadone Group public relations director.

"This is a gift from the Hagadone Family and Mr. Hagadone asked me to step it up a notch this year."

That means more than 1,400 shells and 3,000 shots that will ignite just after 6 p.m. for an 8-minute, no-holds-barred display.

The 25th edition of the show - once featured as America's top holiday destination by ABC's Good Morning America - will showcase 1.5 million holiday lights around the lake through Jan. 2. "Journey to the North Pole" cruises depart nightly for views of the colorful panoramic view, too.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort offers stay-and-cruise packages for the Holiday Light Show, as well as buy-one, get-one-free cruise tickets with meal purchases at Beverly's, The Cedars Floating Restaurant, Tito's Italian Grill, Dockside, Bonsai Bistro, Beachouse or Mulligan's.

This year's master of ceremonies is Jerry Jaeger, president and co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality.

Packages/reservations: (208) 765-4000. "Journey to the North Pole" tickets: (208) 664-7268 or cdaresort.com.