MANKATO Minn.– The Greater Mankato Area Girl Scouts are proud to present the 2018 Kiwanis Holiday Lights opening day parade on Friday, November 23rd at 6 pm. This year’s parade festivities include many lighted floats with special surprises and an appearance by Santa Claus. The parade will be led by Grand Marshal Mitzi Roberts, Owner/Director of Dance Express. This free event is made possible by generous sponsors, volunteer groups and donors.
People attending the parade are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating along the parade route as there will be extremely limited seating in the warming house near the end of the parade. Parking is available near the Sibley Park Ball Diamonds, CHS parking lot on Woodland Avenue or along the neighborhood streets. Make sure to dress your family warm! Concession stand will be open so you can get some holiday snacks and hot chocolate or apple cider to warm up!
The parade begins at the intersection of Rogers Street and Owens Street and continues through Sibley Park concluding near the Sibley Park Pavilion. A parade route map, including designated parking areas, can be found online at kiwanisholidaylights.com/calendar/parade.
A Lighting Ceremony in Sibley Park will be held immediately following the parade. The lights display will open to driving traffic starting at 8 pm on November 23rd following the parade and will remain open through December 31st. Admission for walking and driving traffic is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or a cash donation. In addition to the lights display, Kiwanis Holiday Lights also features Santa in his workshop, live reindeer, a skating rink, and horse drawn carriage rides.
About the Greater Mankato Area Girl Scouts:
Girl Scouts offers the best leadership development experience for girls in grades K through 12, setting them up for a lifetime of success. The inclusive, all-female environment of a Girl Scout troop creates a safe space where girls can try new things and be themselves. From adventuring outdoors or experimenting with science to saving a park or developing new skills, Girl Scouting prepares girls for a lifetime of leadership. Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. As Girl Scouts progress from Daisy to Ambassador, the awards they earn symbolize new and higher levels of achievement—and ultimately a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader. Some awards are related to specific activities (the Global Action award, for example), while others, like the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award, recognize larger projects that girls complete on their own. The Girl Scout Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9 through 12 and is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn and is equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle Award.
For more information, please visit: www.girlscoutsrv.org or visit our Facebook page: Greater Mankato Area Girl Scouts.