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Christmas in the Fort Celebration Make for Great Start to Holidays

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November 29, 2022 / Joe Korkowski / ,
A parade float decorated as a black train car with "THE CHAMBER EXPRESS" in gold letters, festive lights, red bows, and people inside celebrates Christmas in the Fort as it moves down the street at night.

The celebration in the Runestone Museum’s Fort Alexandria, known as “Christmas in the Fort” just continues to grow each year.

This year the annual Black Friday celebration added a lighted parade to the list of activities and the public responded. Christmas in the Fort began on November 25th around 3:00pm with apple cider and cookies, tours of the outdoor buildings, carolers singing, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and all kinds of other nuances that make it a remarkable celebration in and of its own. Next door at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum they opened up their boathouse and held the Parade of Trees. Each individual tree decorated by a business or organization in the Alexandria area. There were other trees that were part of the parade as well, but simply displayed in the individual stores or shops. The Boat House also had a hot cocoa bar, s’mores and a spot for taking a Holiday picture.

As is tradition at 5:15pm ALP Utilities supplies a large light switch that is triggered to officially turn on the downtown holiday lights for the season. This year the honored guest to the flip the switch was centurion Lavina Larson. With thousands of people spilled out onto a closed Broadway Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, she flipped the lever and the lights came on. Right across the street, within a good snowball throw away from Big Ole, Copper Trail Brewing Company had fire pits out and about to help fight off any chill, along with a few adult craft beverages available too.

The next event of the night was a real Hallmark moment. The enormous crowd spilled into downtown to watch Alexandria’s first lighted holiday parade titled, “Lights on Broadway.” Organizers of the parade, the “Friends of Christmas” were hoping for at least 20 floats for this inaugural parade, but received 40+ entries. The parade was put out live on the Explore Alexandria Facebook page with judges Mayor Bobbie Osterberg, KXRA host Patty Wicken, Travelers Inn owner Patrick Sieve and Explore Alexandria’s Joe Korkowski doing some commentating. Plenty was learned in this first time event for Alexandria, but the overwhelming response was that this is a great addition to an already wonderful event.

The Friends of Christmas say more additions and improvements will be made as this annual event comes to pass on Friday, November 24th, 2023.

Special thanks to Blake Steinbring (Bulldog Photography) and Lisa Hurlen for their photos of the events.

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Buddy the Elf and this kiddo celebrate the event.
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Counselor Realty handed out dozens of lighted necklaces.
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Doug’s Kettle Korn added some flavor.
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The Alexandria Carolers greeted people in the Fort with music.
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The youngster stopped into the Parade of Trees at the Legacy of the Lakes Boat House.
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A nice path is made between the two museums.
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100 year old Lavina Larson turned on the lights with a flip of the switch.
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The Alexandria Fire Department was a big part of the parade.
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R.O.A.R. (Runestone Off-Road ATV Riders) had several vehicles in the parade and took home the Best Lighted Float” award.
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ALP Utilities had a remarkable float complete with reindeer, huge candy canes, round bales shaped like and Santa and Rudolph.
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Chamber Executive Director is one of the “Friends of Christmas” and helped to organize the parade entrants.
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The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce deck out this float in honor of the movie the Polar Express.
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Management and board members from the Alexandria Senior Center got in on the parade fun
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Blake Steinbring (Bulldog Photography) captured images from above
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Downtown celebration
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Two of the four parade float judges, Alexandria mayor Bobbie Osterberg and local radio celebrity Patty Wicken.
Judge Crew
All four judges were set up outside of the Andria Theatre under the new marquee. L-R Joe Korkowski, Bobbie Osterberg, Patty Wicken & Patrick Sieve).
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