Join us at the Parade!
The Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade is this Saturday and begins at 6pm. Lori and I will be taking the kids to see the floats, fire engines, and costumed characters and we hope you can join us as well. During the parade, there will be a “Winter Wonderland” contest where some lucky person will win a $250.00 Mill Avenue shopping spree. Approximately 20 businesses along Mill Avenue will participate in the Winter Wonderland storefront decorating contest where the public will vote on the best decorated business along Mill. Each person that votes will be entered into a drawing for the $250.00 Mill Avenue shopping spree. Of course, you probably don’t have much of a chance because our kids say that we will win the contest! 🙂
Each year the Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade draws approximately 45,000 people looking to get into the holiday spirit. While we always enjoy Thanksgiving with our family and I typically think of turkey day as the beginning of my holiday season, this parade should excite the kids even more. Immediately following the parade people are invited to watch the lighting of the holiday tree located in front of MADCAP Theater on Sixth Street and Mill. Santa Claus will be riding in the parade and then will be hanging out in the MADCAP theater lobby where we can take photos ( at no charge ) with St Nick.
The Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade begins at Third Street and Mill Avenue and ends at Fifth Street and Maple. Directly across from the starting point of the parade is the METRO light rail station for Mill Avenue. The boys are excited to “ride the train” to the parade!
The map below shows the parade route, the starting and stopping point, the location of the holiday tree, and the MADCAP Theater where Santa will be providing family photo ops. The portion of the route outlined in red shows the “pedestrian viewing areas.” More information about the Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade is available on this Fantasy of Lights page.
View Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade in a larger map
* Parking note * If you are not riding the light rail, the city of Tempe says that you can bring a can of food for the less fortunate and park for free at the lot on Fifth Street and Farmer and at the Tempe City Hall garage on Fifth Street and Forest. The Tempe Kiwanis will deliver the goods to Tempe charities in need. Other area parking info is located at:
http://www.millavenue.com/transportation
If you are heading to Tempe for the parade, “Just Call Nick” and let us know. It would be fun to see you. We hope to see you there!
