No holiday parade this year
Dancers with Alta Dance Academy perform during the 2019 Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association Lighting Ceremony Parade on Sherman Avenue. This year's parade has been canceled because of COVID-19, but other festivities will be offered, including Elf on the Shelf, Small Business Saturday and the Parade of Trees.
LOREN BENOIT/Press File
COEUR d’ALENE — For the first time in nearly three decades, the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association Lighting Ceremony Parade has been canceled.
The Downtown Association officially made the announcement one day after The Coeur d'Alene Resort shared the news that its annual holiday fireworks show has also been canceled.
"After months of coordination and looking at different options, it's just not feasible to host a parade," Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association executive director Emily Boyd said Thursday. "It would do the community a disservice to have a large gathering of this type.
"It's certainly not an easy decision to have to look at," Boyd said, adding that although in the short term it would be great for downtown businesses to have so many visitors, in the long run it's just not a good idea as North Idaho continues to see a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In lieu of a large gathering, the Downtown Association is offering other festive fun in the form of Elf on the Shelf, Small Business Saturday and a brand new event.
"We want to do anything we can to help our businesses and have something safe for our community, so we are bringing you the Parade of Trees," Boyd said.
The Parade of Trees will begin Nov. 27. Unique, glamorous and creatively decorated holiday trees will be on display in businesses throughout downtown. Many will be in storefront windows "so you can see them when you walk by and still have that joy of the holiday season," she said.
Guests will be invited to vote for their favorites.
"These trees won’t be your regular Christmas trees," Boyd said. "They're going to be fun and outlandish."
Elf on the Shelf activities will begin the same day. These sneaky elves will be hiding in downtown shops. Those who find the elves will receive passport stamps and win prizes. Passports will be at participating businesses.
"We know this day is a family gathering day, so households can still spread out to the businesses and participate on this day."
The trees and elves will add an extra layer of excitement to Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 28. This day is dedicated to supporting small businesses in communities across America. In downtown Coeur d'Alene, shoppers will find offerings in the different businesses.
"We’re just thinking moment to moment, and how to modify things safely," Boyd said. "We’re still celebrating, it's just different."