Christmas in Ida, Parade of Lights this weekend
IDA — The 41st annual Christmas in Ida Festival and Parade of Lights is this weekend in Ida.
Among the new attractions is Friday’s Jingle Bell Rockout concert and animation in the Parade of Lights.
“Animation is coming from Wisconsin, from Anita’s Dance Center. They always do some neat floats,” said Dale Zorn, Christmas in Ida’s executive director.
Christmas in Ida will run Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1-2. The Parade of Lights, which organizers call the largest lights parade in the Midwest, is Saturday. A school concert will cap off festivities on Sunday.
Friday
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday with the Jingle Bell Rockout, a new country and rock concert featuring five regional bands.
The Ida Christmas Mall opens Friday and runs all day Saturday. It will feature many vendors. Wrapped toys can be dropped off at the mall for a toy drive.
Holiday Arts on the Avenue will open Friday and continue Saturday. Local artists will display their artwork on this year’s theme, “Christmas Legends.” Children also can make their own Christmas ornament at the venue.
Ice sculpting and wood carving demonstrations will begin Friday and continue Saturday.
The Downtown Craft & Vendor Show, The World of Robotics with Bedford and Whiteford high schools and the Family Video Game Adventure will all begin at 6 p.m.
The Friday Night Commemorative Concert is at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church and will feature the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus.
Other entertainment offered Friday, include dance performance by Anita’s Dance Center and an agriculture exhibit by the Southeast Michigan Antique Tractor & Engine Association.
The Right Directions BMX professional bike riders from Toledo will perform at 7 p.m. on Lewis Avenue. Riders from the Action Sports Demo Team will show off high speeds and acrobatics.
"The show will incorporate positive messages about safety, anti-bullying, the dangers of drugs and tobacco and the importance of healthy living,” Zorn said.
Terra Quest 4-H’s Benefit Auction will start at 8:20 p.m.
Saturday
Indoor Craft Show opens at 8:30 a.m. at Ida High School and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Featured will be more than 230 vendors.
Also starting at 8:30 a.m. will be the 4-H Coat Collection offered by Monroe County 4-H Teen Ambassadors, and a food pantry collection by West Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church. A toy drive will be held by New Beginnings Mercy House.
Starting at 9 a.m. are Santa visits and the downtown Craft & Vendor Show. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be escorted by the Ida Volunteer Fire Department. Miss Monroe County contestants will assist Santa and the elves.
Ice sculpting and chainsaw art, Family Video Game Adventure, Storytime with Mrs. Claus and Chicken Bowling all will begin at 10 a.m.
Starting at 11 a.m. are Santa’s Zoo with farm and exotic animals, free carriage rides through Ida and lunch with Santa.
Performances will begin at noon and will include Peg Harris Dance Studio, The Sophisticates, Miss Monroe County Reese Johnson, Miss Monroe County Outstanding Teen MaKayla Dickinson, Junior Miss Monroe County Princess MaKayla Dickinson, Little Miss Monroe County Princess Sophia Adams, and Tiny Miss Monroe County Princess Elliette Blanchett.
Local author Ana Bruck, 16, will sign copies of her book “Hope on Four Hooves,” which raises money for Little Blessings Veterans Outreach.
The Flurries for the Kids Family Show will features music, movement, games and prizes.
The 2023 prince and princess candidates from Ida High School will be part of Christmas in Ida. Representing Student Council are Grantham Nelson and Madison Steinman; Key Club, Tiernan Strimpel and Mia Karl; National Honor Society, Seth Breitner and Shelby Potter; High School Choir, Mac Swanson and Oli Johnson; High School Band, Micah Bourbina and Nicole Johnson; and Trap Shooting Club, Noah Adkins and Megan Huston. The prince and princess will be introduced by Miss Monroe County Reese Johnson and crowned by Santa Claus during the afternoon entertainment.
Also offered Saturday are holiday photos with pets. Holiday Hounds on Parade begins at 2:15 p.m. and will feature more than 100 dogs.
The Young Country Music Concert begins at 4:25 p.m. Two concerts will take place in the outdoor theater. Halle Kearns will perform at 4:25. Country performer and headliner Tyler Rich will perform at 5:25. Rich will be introduced by Lyn and Marco from K100 radio station. A public meet-and-greet and autograph signing with both artists will follow.
Light Up the Night Fun Run is at 6. All runners must be illuminated.
Food vendors will be located throughout the village all day. Local organizations serving food are the Ida Band Boosters and Ida United Methodist Church.
Saturday's Parade of Lights
The fireworks show is at 6:30 p.m.
The pre-show for Parade of Lights is at 6:30 p.m. on Lewis Avenue and will feature Anita’s Dance Center and Marissa Pierce, a member of the National and World Baton Champion Team USA.
The parade will begin at 7 p.m. and will include 110 lighted displays of farm implements, fire trucks, floats, parade balloons, bands, cartoon characters, marching bands and dancers.
Bob Knabusch and Laurie Knabusch-Sherman are the parade grand marshals.
“Bob Knabusch has been the chairman of the Parade of Lights for the last 26 years and helped usher in television and livestream productions of the parade. He has promoted the parade to what it has become today,” Zorn said.
Knabusch-Sherman has been the chairperson of the North Town Craft and Vendor Show at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the past 14 years.
“Both have followed in their parents footsteps, Marge Knabusch-Kreps and late Bill Knabusch, as long-time dedicated members of the executive board,” Zorn said.
Special guests in the parade will include singers Rich and Kearns, Santa and Mrs. Claus, IHS prince and princess candidates, Miss Monroe County royalty, the Lenawee County Fair queen, Louie the Light Bug from DTE Energy, McGruff and Scruffy, the Grinch, the Abominable Snowman and winning dogs from Holiday Hounds on Parade.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will be in the parade and will be on display during the day.
Music will be heard throughout the parade by three high school marching bands: Airport, Britton-Deerfield and Ida. Dixie Highway will be performing country and classic rock during the parade.
Dance and baton groups in the parade will be The Sophisticates, Twirl Michigan, Kylie & Co and Anita’s Dance Center.
Parade judges are Gretchen Eyler from First Merchants Bank; Ryan Kinsey from Kinzit Technologies; and Henry “Hank” Banas from Banas Lumber and Hardware.
The Parade of Lights will be livestreamed at youtube.com/user/MPACTStudio. It also will be broadcast at all season on MPACT. The first airing is at 7 p.m. Dec. 9.
Hosting the television and internet production are Jim Miller of Newport and State Rep. Zorn with special guest host McKenzie Kuehnlein-Hoffman.
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Sunday
The Ida Public Schools' Christmas Collage Concert will begin at 2 p.m. and will offer band performances by the fifth- through 12th-graders.
The Christmas in Ida festival was founded by the Ida Civic Club and sponsored by businesses and service organizations. For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit christmasinida.com.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Christmas in Ida, Parade of Lights this weekend
