Rather than fight the early-morning crowds on the day after Thanksgiving, we’ve started a new family tradition for years when we’re not traveling for the holiday.  We wait until later in the day, and then head to New Ulm for some afternoon shopping, supper at a restaurant, and the Parade of Lights.

In years past, we’ve had extreme cold, rain, and unseasonably nice weather for the parade.  This year was a balmy 36 degrees, which isn’t bad by Minnesota standards in late December.  Hats, coats, and mittens were necessary, but we didn’t need snow pants, boots, and blankets, like sometimes.

The kids eagerly anticipated the turning-off of the street lights on Minnesota Street, New Ulm’s main shopping street, which signal the beginning of the parade.  Then they were watching for parade units from the wrong direction, for parades are the only time that traffic moves north on this one-way street.

Once the parade started, the kids loved the lights.  Favorites were the caterpillar and pontoon boat, along with displays from Hermann the German and the Wanda Gag house.

The parade was done before 7:00, but because darkness falls early in these months, the kids thought it was much later and fell asleep in the car on the way home, with visions of lighted parade units in their heads.

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