No more Holidazzle? No problem. Now there's "Winterapolis."
City leaders say the three-month celebration combines existing holiday and wintertime mainstays with new events and activities. Their aim is to make Minneapolis "America's Winter City."
There will be more vendors in and around the popular Dayton's Market as well as other holiday markets downtown, and parking and restaurant deals to help draw visitors.
Former mayor and head of the Minneapolis Foundation, R.T. Rybak, says those concerned about safety, or having enough to do, are sadly mistaken.
"The Dayton's Marketplace has proven that there's incredible activity downtown and the Great Northern Festival has a great audience," says Rybak. "If people are not wanting to come downtown, I feel sorry for them, honestly. But the fact of the matter is, it's where it's at, and come on and see."
Winterapolis kicks off the night after Thanksgiving along the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis with a Light Up and Winter Kickoff event from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
"America's Winter City will be even brighter this year," Rybak adds. "We're kicking off with a 'light up' celebration that will become Minneapolis' traditional welcome to our best season."
Meet Minneapolis CEO Melvin Tennant says it's also a way to draw visitors during the colder months.
"We want to make sure that we're able to tell the story year round that we're a four seasons city," says Tennant. "And what we do here is really helping us to maintain and preserve the 33,000 hospitality industry jobs that help us keep the promises that we make.'
Other Events:
Dayton's Holiday Market (November 13-December 27)
Holidays on Nicollet Mall 9November 13-December 27)
Christkindl Market at North Loop Green (November 21-December 21)
Holidays on Hennpin, Uptown (November 28-December 31)
Orchestra Hall's Nordic Soundscapes Festival (January 3-17)
U.S. Pond Hockey Tournament (January 23-25)
The Great Northern (January 28-February 1)
Curling on Nicollet Mall (Dates are TBD)
You can find more events and details by visiting winterapolis.org.