All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
The parade’s guest of honor is due to arrive at the Left Hand Grange at 6:30 p.m., but has to leave by 9 p.m. to catch the red-eye out of DIA back to the North Pole.
Santa will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Niwot Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Niwot’s 2018 holiday season officially gets underway on Friday, Nov. 23 with the 18th annual Enchanted Evening in Old Town and Cottonwood Square.
“It is a wonderful family and community event,” Dr. Nancy Bureau, co-owner of Left Hand Animal Hospital commented. She is helping to organize this year’s festival for the Niwot Business Association, along with Chuck and Linda Klueber. “The best part of the evening is enjoying the sense of community that this event brings.”
This year’s tradition-steeped celebration has a little bit of something for everyone.
Festivities kick off at the corner of Second Avenue and Niwot Road with a pop-inspired holiday performance by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, beginning at 5:45 p.m. in anticipation of Santa’s arrival.
Santa Claus arrives at 6:15 p.m. by horse-drawn carriage to host the tree lighting ceremony, and will then head off to the Left Hand Grange to visit with children until 9 p.m. After the kids give their lists to Santa, families can head over to the Emporium Building for an arts and craft show or to Niwot Market for an ice sculpture demonstration. Banjo Billy’s bus will once again be in service between Old Town and Cottonwood Square.
It’s going to be a busy night for music lovers. Five diverse musical acts will be performing around town, including the Ptarmigan String Quartet at the Grange with Santa. At Winot Coffee, perennial favorite Dr. Banjo will be back with his bluegrass set, while bassist Nalani DeMarco Clisset will be performing along Second Avenue. Harpist Carolyn Kuban will be at the Niwot Inn, and classical guitarist Lise Blumenthal will be at Osmosis Art & Architecture. There will also be roaming carolers in full traditional regalia.
Niwot businesses are getting into the spirit with a window decorating contest. Sixteen local establishments will be “decking the halls” with their most artful holiday-themed displays, including Bureau’s vet clinic with a “Snow Pets” theme.
“In visiting businesses, seeing window designs, and sharing that with family and friends, the holiday spirit is truly felt,” Bureau said.
Visitors to Enchanted Evening will have a chance to vote for their favorite window, and the top three vote-getters will receive a ribbon and plaque. Later on, three completed ballots will be chosen at random, and the lucky voters will receive gift card to Lucky Pie, Old Oak Coffeehouse, or Pebble Art Jewelry.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the day after Thanksgiving without shopping. Most Niwot retailers will be open during the event, offering enticements to help customers get a head start on holiday giving.
Santa makes a return trip to Niwot on Saturday, Dec. 1 to serve as the Grand Marshal in the annual Holiday Parade. This year’s procession kicks off at 11 a.m. and will feature the Boulder County Sheriff's Color Guard as well as a wide variety of scouts (cub, boy, brownie, and girl). There will also be 4-H clubs, classic car clubs, horses, llamas, marching bands and much, much more. Santa will be back at the Left Hand Grange to catch up with those kids who couldn’t make it to Enchanted Evening or those needing to make any additions or corrections to their wish lists until 1 p.m.
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