Resort lights up the holidays

The 2024 Coeur d'Alene Resort Holiday Light Show will enchant and thrill all ages with stunning fireworks and lights over Lake Coeur d'Alene.

This year’s grand opening ceremony is set for Friday, and the show runs through Jan 1. The annual Lighting Ceremony starts at 5 p.m. in downtown Coeur d’Alene, with a lighted parade along Sherman Avenue. 

By 6 p.m., crowds gather along the lakefront to sing Christmas carols and light candles. More than 36,000 spectators are expected.

“I am truly thrilled and honored to be part of the 37th annual lighting ceremony,” said Jim Brown, this year’s guest of honor. 

Brown, master craftsman and designer for Hagadone Marine Group, will help lead the crowd in counting down from 10. That is the cue to ignite the 1,500 shell fireworks show over Lake Coeur d’Alene. After the last burst of fireworks, all 1.5 million lights will come on.

The nightly Journey to the North Pole cruises take guests on a scenic adventure to visit Santa’s workshop across the lake. From its humble beginnings in 1986 with a glowing fire truck, the resort has grown into an internationally renowned holiday hotspot, even featured live on ABC’s Good Morning America in 2007. 

“This season, visitors are in for a spectacular surprise,” said Bill Reagan, president of The Coeur d’Alene Resort. “Our new mega-floating Christmas tree is truly a sight to behold. It’s an incredible addition that will be the highlight of every guest’s visit to the North Pole. Santa has outdone himself, and this tree, shimmering over the water, is the crown jewel of the season.”

The Coeur d’Alene Resort Holiday Light Show is built by a team of 15 people who work for more than two months each fall to set up the displays, for a total of about 8,000 man-hours.

"We deeply appreciate our guests who return year after year, making this a beloved family tradition,” Reagan said. “We’re always crafting new surprises to keep the magic alive." 

    The Coeur d'Alene Resort casts a glow toward Lake Coeur d'Alene.
  

    Fireworks, Santa's workshop and a new illuminated Christmas tree create a magical setting at The North Pole across Lake Coeur d'Alene.
  

    The fire-breathing dragon roars from The Boardwalk at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.