Because we have your bright spirits at heart, Life is Suite continues its series about the best holiday lights and decor in the cities our hotels call home. Here, blog contributing writer Martha Thomas whisks us somewhere super-sparkly: Minneapolis.
You’d expect the holidays “up North” in Minneapolis to be wintery. After hearing about the festive decor at Nicolett Mall, the pedestrian promenade near Kimpton’s Grand Hotel, it’s also safe to say the city is an all-out wonderland.
The fanciful display includes planters up and down the Mall that bubble over with native spruce, dogwood and birch logs sourced from local farms. Adding to the green scene are evergreen wreaths and garlands bedecking light poles. What’s best, everything is illuminated by more than half a million twinkle lights.
Stroll around on a late afternoon (Thursday-Sunday) through Dec. 18 and encounter Holidazzle, a festive procession of floats, many with storybook themes (pictured above). Then march yourself into the eighth-floor auditorium at Macy’s for Santaland, a children’s fantasy of animated puppet elves culminating with up-close encounters with the jolly guy with the red suit.
The 8th-floor wonderland at Macy’s
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Nearby, the windows of Neiman Marcus are all aglow, as are those of the boutiques lining the atrium of popular Gaviidae Mall.
Another can’t-miss tradition is Holiday Under Glass, a concert series featuring a daily performance at noon at the nearby IDS Center’s Crystal Court. As perfect accompaniment to the uplifting music, a holiday tree soars above the skyway level inside the glittering lobby of the city’s signature Philip Johnson-designed building.
The best part of all is that this is Minnesota – where snow is practically a guarantee.
Photo of Holidazzle float: Courtesy of Minneapolis Downtown Council; photo of Macy’s courtesy of Meet Minneapolis.
