Jack Frost Parade
Winter in the Upper Peninsula is always a very special time of year. Beautiful piles of white snow, amazingly clear star-lit nights, and that special aura of cold quietness which descends upon our towns, farms, and cabins that signifies the end of one year and the “resting up” to start another.
The first of the U.P. Winter visitors—the one that sets the tone for the months that follow—is that noted weather practitioner Mr. Jack Frost. It is through his visual and felt presence that all Yoopers know that Wintertime has arrived.
It was to give public recognition of Jack’s role in our U.P. landscape, as well as call attention to the round of seasonal holiday and outdoor festival events, that the Jack Frost Parade was created. Held annually on the first Saturday of December, The Jack Frost Parade brings together businesses, organizations, and individuals, united in creating brilliantly illuminated floats (and people, horses, and dogs!) who step off together at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and parade down Ironwood’s Aurora Street, past the Carnegie Library and the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Creativity abounds, as such normally pedestrian items such as farm tractors, fire trucks, and even a trailer load of porta-potties are transformed with lights and holiday decorations into worthy exhibitions of Mr. Jack Frost Wintertime Spirt.
As Mr. Jack Frost–wonderfully attired in his blue-spangled costume—leads the parade, he and his little frost helpers hand out blue hard candies to the youngsters lining the street. Right behind Jack comes Santa and Mrs. Claus in their horse-drawn sleigh, making manifest the holiday element of December and January days! Winter, Christmas, and New Years all come together in the Jack Frost Festival of Lights parade, where the wonderfully decorated parade units overcome the evening darkness (even if for just a short time).
And what units! The Jack Frost Parade is a true and authentic Yooper Event. The Precision Snow Shovel Drill team always puts on a fantastic performance, showing the talent, skill, and snow-moving inventiveness that is the hallmark of a true Yooper! Massive snowmobile trail groomers loom large over the other units, and their brilliant holiday lights illuminate the way for the dedicated dog-walkers of HOPE Animal Shelter—whose dogs this night are also arrayed in lighted hats, collars, and booties.
Of course, a good parade-time snow blizzard always makes the experience memorable, and most years we are able to count on Jack’s influence with his relatives (Mr. and Mrs. Snow Flake and their vast family) being able to attend, along with their neighbor, Mr. North Wind. Taken together, it is all that makes the Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade one of the “coolest” events ever in this part of the U.P.
Plan to attend this year’s parade! It is not online or TV, it is not a “virtual happening”, it’s real, its brilliant, its cold, and it is all amazingly beautiful.