Sunday, December 3, 2017

Denver 43rd Annual Parade of Lights


Santa Claus arrived in Denver this past weekend at the 43rd annual Parade of Lights extravaganza, which parades past excited spectators for two miles in Denver, Colorado. My daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter attended the parade and had a wonderful time. They are allowing me to use all their cell phone photos and videos to share with you on my blog this week.  I hope you will enjoy them! 





They had grandstand seats, across from the Denver City and County building.  This facebook video on my Mille Fiori Facebook page above shows how the parade begins with the spectacular lighting of the building!  
I've blogged about the wonderful way Denver lights up many of it's building for Christmas in this blog post and also this post and this one.  
The Denver  City and County building lights up with over 600,000 permanently installed, energy saving, LED lights and includes a beautiful lighted nativity scene in front.


My daughter and family are in the upper left of this collage enjoying the different marching bands and parade dignitaries that were passing by in the stagecoach.


There were many ornate floats in the parade, including a living nativity scene...


...a gingerbread house, and a dancing Chinese dragon!


This Mille Fiori Favoriti Facebook video shows the Air Force Academy Cadet Honor Guard that was marching in the parade.


There were also giant balloons in the parade, such as Frosty the Snowman, a Snow Tiger, and the Gift of Life Balloon.


There was a new float this year of a beautiful glowing ice castle made by the Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountains.



Even the America Flag was glowing in the Parade of Lights!




In this Mille Fiori Favoriti Facebook Page video, we can see the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the hour-long parade!


As you can see my granddaughter was so excited to be at the parade that she stood by the barricade for almost the entire time and enjoyed it very much!  It was one of the highlights of the Christmas season, so far, for her.  
Held since 1975, the Parade of Lights parade is sponsored each year by businesses and is free for spectators, with a fee-only for those wishing to have elevated grandstand seats.

More holiday happenings can be seen on my MilleFioriFavoriti Instagram page--please follow along to see more!

You can also find me on 





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41 comments:

Barb said...

Hi Pat, we watched the Parade of Lights many years ago with the 3 oldest grands. It was a frigid night, but the kids were mesmerized. I think it was not as cold this year. Julia looks like she’s loving the action.

Linda said...

Oh, PAT!!!!! Thank you so much! this was exciting and so spectacular!!
I loved every photo and enjoyed 'being there' through you!

The Furry Gnome said...

Looks like a lot of bright lights!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a beautiful light parade - so much to enjoy! Children are magically attracted to light:) And great you could share it with your family! Many thanks for showing some of the floats for All Seasons - yes, the mot wonderful season of the year! Enjoy your December week!

Thank you for your comment - I will enjoy trimming the tree - hopefully this week:)

Tony McGurk said...

Spectacular colours of the lights on the building Pat. What a wonderful display

likeschocolate said...

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

Tom said...

...now this helps to get me into the spirit. Thanks for sharing all of this color!

Gillena Cox said...

A happy Mosaic Monday to you. Thanks for all the lovely pics

much love...

Ingmarie We said...

What a colourful parade! Thank you for posting. Have a nice week.

Tanna said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! Such great memories for your grands, Pat!! Just beautiful! blessings ~ tanna

Jeanie said...

Your granddaughter is adorable!

Fabulous photos of the parade -- I tried to get a few pics of one this weekend and didn't fare nearly so well with all the people. Wonderful reporting! It's such fun, a good Christmas parade!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Wow what a fabulous parade. I love all the colors of the lights on the buildings. Yea for your granddaughter being so engaged in watching the parade. Kids just make Christmas more special.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, the Christmas parade looks like a fun event for the family. Your granddaughter is so cute, I am sure she enjoyed the parade too. I love the lights at night, they look so pretty. Enjoy your day and week ahead.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Lovely event and your sweet granddaughter is the perfect age for a parade! (And for the whole Holiday Season really)... thanks for sharing the joy through the eyes of a child! We can all use a regular dose of that.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

I love Christmas lights and parades - wonderful family fun!

photodoug said...

Pat, now that's a parade. Thanks for sharing.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

I graduated from East High in Denver many years ago, so it's good to see the City and County Building lit for the holidays--all the way to the end of the National Western Stock Show in January!

NCSue said...

So colorful and cheery!
Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-explorer.html

Lydia C. Lee said...

That is spectacular! How fantastic!

Linda W. said...

What a wonderful way to begin the holidays!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

They will want to make this a tradition, won't they? How fabulous! Did Santa throw candy, I wonder? We'll go to our golf cart parade...just a bit smaller! heehee! Hugs!

Angie said...

Nothing like a parade to bring out the child in all of us - and this one takes the cake. Lights, ice sculpture, a living Nativity, Santa ... a glorious spectacle! Your photographs and videos took me there!

Sarah said...

Pat, this looked like a marvelous parade. How special for the children to see this. You little granddaughter is growing up. She is adorable!

Little Wandering Wren said...

How incredible! Good job that Denver's electricity companies kept up with the peak in demand! I love the way buildings are lit up these days they are such a beautiful backdrop. What fun!
Wren x

Lady Fi said...

Wow - what a festival of lights!

Lorrie said...

A spectacular parade! Best of all is the little face with the huge smile at the end.

Maggie said...

What an amazing parade, I've never seen anything like that myself and don't expect I ever shall. Your little granddaughter looks so happy and her parents do too. What a great family tradition this is.

DrillerAA09 said...

Nothing sets the mood for Christmas quite like the lights of an evening parade. Have a blessed day.

csuhpat1 said...

That is so very beautiful. What great pics. Thanks for sharing them.

A Colorful World said...

So much fun! Loved seeing the nativity scene! I think Bend and Redmond have some activities I will want to do this year.

Hootin Anni said...

I grew up and lived in Colorado [just northwest of Denver] for nearly 50 years. I so remember this...and I'm glad I stopped by from Our World Tuesday and didn't miss this 'home coming'.

carol l mckenna said...

Oh Wow! What a colorful event and great photos ~ Your grand daughter is the best photo and what a cutie!

Happy Week to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Jim said...

Looks fun.

LV said...

What awesome parade. My son used to live in Littleton, Co. and was so beautiful there. The fish my great grand son caught was a bass.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Wonderful photos and a very fun time! I like that shot of your granddaughter.

ellen b. said...

So festive and colorful. Your little granddaughter is such a cutie! Love her smile.

Al said...

That looks like fun. We have a similar parade here in the Springs but I never seem to make it.

Mary K. said...

Oh my that looks like you had so much fun Pat. I am really looking forward to the parades here in the US. They are so much more of everything.

Joanne said...

Oh my goodness! I think I might want to come to Denver one year just to watch this in person!! A local town hosts a light parade but all of the floats are made by local businesses and are NOTHING like the amazing floats seen here. I love that all the businesses light up too; so festive!!

Susie of Arabia said...

What a spectacular and exciting parade of lights! Thanks for sharing this. There are no signs of Christmas where I live... sigh

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you so much for this wonderful post.
I felt I was there!
Spectacular.

All the best Jan