Holiday Parade is off for Owatonna

Lighting up the holidays with a downtown parade will have to wait at least another year in Owatonna.
Last week the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce decided to cancel this year’s annual Lighted Holiday Parade in early December due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Chamber director Brad Meier said having a parade is not what people are looking for in this COVID environment. “It’s disappointing to not be able to do it this year,” he acknowledged. “People have grown to love the parade. It’s a slice of Americana.”
The parade attracted an estimated crowd of about 5,000 people last year. Approximately 70 units all outlined in bright holiday lights and decorations usually take part in the parade, which has been going since the early 1990s.
The chamber is replacing the parade with a cruising event on Friday, Dec. 4 at dusk through downtown and Central Park. “We are encouraging businesses to light up their store fronts with lights and decorations,” Meier said, noting the Owatonna Business Partnerships is assisting the chamber with the effort. “We want people to drive thru the downtown and see the lights,” he added.
Central Park, Meier said, will be decorated with some new additional holiday lights this year.
Meier hopes the holiday parade, which has been touted as “one of the best in Minnesota” will return again next year.