Every Christmas season, Duluth has a free Christmas lights display, open from 5-9 every night from Thanksgiving through New Years (I think that's when it ends). We've never gone but figured living up here, it is something that our girls should experience This year was the year we were going to go, we decided, and kept an eye out on the weather. We knew going on the weekend would be awful, crowded, and no fun at all, so we decided to live life on the edge and go during the week. Tuesday looked promising, high of 35 degrees (Sunday was a high of 0 degrees).
We hoped to leave right at 4:00, but of course didn't make it out of Ashland until 4:30. The girls were fabulous in the car, knock on wood, we've had two great trips in the last few weeks, so we may have . . . no, I can't put it in writing and jinx us before the holiday travel starts.
Parking was crazy, even for a Tuesday, so we had to walk many blocks to get to the Tour of Lights. Greta was super excited to see the "ligh-lighs!" As was Lilly. It was a very impressive display of lights, and a ridiculous number of people. We skipped visiting Santa, the line was rather long, it was chilly, all of us are sick (Nick in the first day of it, the rest of us at the tail end of it), and we still needed dinner. And, most importantly, Lilly was unaware that Santa was there. Next year, when she'll be able to read, we'll probably have to come up with a good reason why not, or wait in the line. (Kids under ten who visit Santa do get a free knit hat and cookies). There is also free hot chocolate, coffee, marshmallows, and popcorn throughout the tour of lights. We didn't indulge in any, just stayed focused on walking through the lights. It was a very festive display. Lilly was quite happy to see Rudolph throughout.
There was Christmas music playing as we toured the lights and Lilly couldn't help but dance:
Dancing in Bentleyville 1 from Megan Robertson on Vimeo.
Bentleyville Dancing 2 from Megan Robertson on Vimeo.
After we made it through all the lights, we walked back the many blocks to Canal Park for pizza. Again, the girls were amazing. Very adorable sitting at the table in their snow pants, but of course I didn't get a photo of that, too busy making sure Greta didn't fall off her chair and Lilly stayed focused on eating so we could get on the road. We were back on the road about 8 and another amazing car ride back. Greta fell asleep at a reasonable time and is sleeping in her clothes upstairs right now, making it from the car to her crib without waking up. Lilly fell asleep about five-ten minutes from home and of course woke up on the trip into the house. Then she required a bedtime treat and stories.
Here are some photos from the evening
We hoped to leave right at 4:00, but of course didn't make it out of Ashland until 4:30. The girls were fabulous in the car, knock on wood, we've had two great trips in the last few weeks, so we may have . . . no, I can't put it in writing and jinx us before the holiday travel starts.
Parking was crazy, even for a Tuesday, so we had to walk many blocks to get to the Tour of Lights. Greta was super excited to see the "ligh-lighs!" As was Lilly. It was a very impressive display of lights, and a ridiculous number of people. We skipped visiting Santa, the line was rather long, it was chilly, all of us are sick (Nick in the first day of it, the rest of us at the tail end of it), and we still needed dinner. And, most importantly, Lilly was unaware that Santa was there. Next year, when she'll be able to read, we'll probably have to come up with a good reason why not, or wait in the line. (Kids under ten who visit Santa do get a free knit hat and cookies). There is also free hot chocolate, coffee, marshmallows, and popcorn throughout the tour of lights. We didn't indulge in any, just stayed focused on walking through the lights. It was a very festive display. Lilly was quite happy to see Rudolph throughout.
There was Christmas music playing as we toured the lights and Lilly couldn't help but dance:
Dancing in Bentleyville 1 from Megan Robertson on Vimeo.
Bentleyville Dancing 2 from Megan Robertson on Vimeo.
After we made it through all the lights, we walked back the many blocks to Canal Park for pizza. Again, the girls were amazing. Very adorable sitting at the table in their snow pants, but of course I didn't get a photo of that, too busy making sure Greta didn't fall off her chair and Lilly stayed focused on eating so we could get on the road. We were back on the road about 8 and another amazing car ride back. Greta fell asleep at a reasonable time and is sleeping in her clothes upstairs right now, making it from the car to her crib without waking up. Lilly fell asleep about five-ten minutes from home and of course woke up on the trip into the house. Then she required a bedtime treat and stories.
Here are some photos from the evening
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| Posing in front of Dinoland for Uncle Matt |
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| Big ore ship |
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| Entryway |
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| So many people . . . (yet when we walk in, who do we see but my principal!) |
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