A holly jolly celebration

COEUR d'ALENE — City sidewalks will be busy and dressed in holiday style Friday as the Lake City and thousands of guests celebrate the official start of the yuletide season.

The annual holiday parade, presented by the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce and Idaho Central Credit Union, begins on Sherman Avenue at 5 p.m. More than 35 floats and entries will start at Eighth Street and head west to Northwest Boulevard. The parade should last 45-55 minutes and will include appearances by Heritage Health, Napa Auto Parts, the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, Bicycle Sales and Service and other familiar faces from the community — including a jolly man in a red suit and white beard.

"This is truly my community parade," said Gay Glasson, events coordinator for the chamber.

The parade's theme this year is "Cool Yule," and Glasson said people should plan to bundle up because the evening will indeed be cool. Although skies will be clear, temperatures will be in the 30s in the day and as low as 20 once night falls, with slight winds possible.

"Everyone needs to dress warm," she said. "It is going to be cold. It’s going to be gorgeous for the fireworks, but it’s going to be cold."

For spectators desiring a closer view, Glasson suggested finding a spot closer to Eighth Street where crowds will be thinner. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the festivities.

"Family comes home at Thanksgiving, and this is a family tradition now," Glasson said. "It has become so big because it is a family-centered parade and fireworks and lights. It's something that people from 99 to 9 months can enjoy, and they do."

Directly following the parade is the big lighting event: The 2015 Coeur d'Alene Resort Holiday Light Show.

Crowds will gather on The Resort lawn to light candles, sing carols, hear from a few of Coeur d'Alene's dignitaries and watch a dazzling fireworks show over the lake as the lights are switched on, officially illuminating the downtown with an all-over holiday glow.

"The fireworks show is always my favorite part of the entire program," said Doug Burnett, resident manager of The Resort. "I enjoy the Santa parade, which gets the festivities started, and of course the traditions that we have enjoyed since the very first lighting ceremony, singing 'Silent Night' and lighting the candles before the big countdown."

Burnett and his wife, Ranel, will lead the crowd in the countdown to set off the fireworks. Burnett is the 2015 lighting ceremony's guest of honor. He said he is looking forward to being a part of it.

"Although I am very honored to participate in this event, the real honor of the evening goes to the team members who have worked enthusiastically to put up all of the decorations and prepare The Resort for the enjoyment of so many throughout the holiday season — and, of course, the Hagadone family who makes this all possible," Burnett said.

The 1,200-shell fireworks extravaganza is a gift to the community, presented by Duane and Lola Hagadone and their family.

"The lighting ceremony has become a favorite holiday tradition for many families," Jerry Jaeger, president and co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality Co., said in a press release. "The Hagadone family enjoys providing the fireworks show as a gift to the community for that very reason."

The holiday lights will be brightening the winter in Coeur d'Alene through Jan. 3.