9News Parade of Lights 2021

A Denver tradition returned last night as the 9News Parade of Lights made its way through the downtown. The parade has been an annual tradition since 1975, but like many events, it was put on hold last year. The parade usually takes place a week after the Thanksgiving weekend, on Friday night and again on Saturday night, but for this return, it was just a Saturday event. With the unseasonably warm start to winter we've been having, this was a perfect year to check out the parade and not freeze your butt off.

Many local institutions sponsor floats each year, and many local schools participate with their marching bands. It's a big parade, but not too big. We showed up about an hour and early and were able to find a great spot without having to fight mobs of people. 

The parade is a fun Denver tradition. It was great to see it back this year!

Denver Chalk Art Festival 2021

There was a lot going on in Denver this Labor Day weekend. This year, we saw the return of several events that didn't happen last year, because...you know. One such event was the Denver Chalk Art Festival. Usually, the festival takes place downtown at historic Larimer Square. It's a great environment, but truth be told, it does get to be pretty tight quarters. Folks are usually shoulder to shoulder as everyone jockeys for position to get the best views of the art. Needless to say, that's not really what the organizers are going for as we try to ease back into large group events. So, this year the festival was scaled back and was incorporated into the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, which also took a much different form this year. Though having the chalk art masterpieces in a mall parking lot, as opposed to along one of Denver's oldest streets, does not really have the same vibe, it was still good to see this event return. Check out a few examples of great works on display.

Pumpkins in Downtown Littleton

I'd always intended this blog to cover some of the goings-on in the Denver area. But, 2020 being what it is, there haven't been any goings-on. Well, at least one tradition has still managed to happen this year...the pumpkin displays in downtown Littleton. Each year, many of the local businesses put together themed pumpkin displays on several of the downtown corners. It looks like this year many of the displays had a theme of famous movies or TV shows. 

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

Superheroes. 

Little Shop of Horrors.

Finding Nemo.

I'm not sure what this one is...but it involved pigs.

You can check out these displays yourself along Littleton Boulevard, but hurry as the pumpkins do start to rot as the days press on.