SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls will host its 32nd annual parade of lights one week from tonight.
But the following night, on Saturday, the town of Tea will host its first ever parade of lights and they’ve been getting ready for the last two months.
Let there be light, lots of lights, 60 thousand to be exact.
This float is just one of several that will be participating in Tea’s first-ever Parade of Lights.
“I think it’s going to be a great event, it’s going to be fun we picked the weekend of Thanksgiving because we think there’s going to be a lot of people in town gathering for the holidays with their families and we’re hoping we get a good turnout for the families who come to watch the parade,” Andrea Kuipers said.
They decided to hold it the day after Sioux Falls’ parade on purpose.
“I think it’s just something we can kind of flow after the Sioux Falls one and hopefully get some floats from there to come out here, I mean they put all their time into their floats, so might as well as have two nights out of it,” Chad Meyer said.
The parade will start at the high school and go east down Brian Street, then turn south on Main Street and end near the American Legion where there will be the lighting of this Christmas tree, Christmas Carols sung by the high school choir and a lot more.
“The last couple of years we’ve done a chili cookoff so people can submit their chili and come to the Legion after the parade and tree lighting,” Tara Kelley said.
While float builders are putting the final touches on their entries, crews downtown are tweaking some of the Christmas lights along main street.
“It’s an exciting event, it’s something to bring the community together; families and something fun to look forward to before the Christmas season,” Kelley said.
And the response?
“Pretty great I think, people have been pretty open to it and sounds like the city council is pretty excited about it and the main city people are pumped to bring just another thing to town,” Meyer said.
Tea is also planning to have Santa ride in a fire truck during the parade. It starts at 6:15 on November 30th.
