Christmas City of the North Parade
PDD Quiz: Christmas City
How well do you know the song “Christmas City”? Put your knowledge to the test with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
A 2025-in-review quiz comes your way on Dec. 28. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Dec. 21. (more…)
The inaugural Christmas City of the North Parade was in 1961
Debate about when the first Christmas City of the North Parade happened has been rekindled numerous times since 2008, when KBJR-TV promoted the 48th annual parade as the “50th annual.” That year Andrew Krueger, then a copy editor at the Duluth News Tribune, set the record straight, digging through newspaper archives that strongly suggested, but maybe didn’t definitively prove, the parade was first held in 1961.
KBJR, then and now, points to 1958 as the first year of the parade.
It is finally time to set aside unreasonable doubt. The short version of the story is this: Krueger was correct. The first Christmas City of the North Parade was held Nov. 17, 1961. (more…)
When Wausau was the Christmas City of the North
This 70-year-old article from the Wausau Daily Herald, published Nov. 17, 1951, serves as a reminder that before Duluth had its parade and “Christmas City” song, a Wisconsin city more than 200 miles to the southeast had already branded itself the “Christmas City of the North.” (more…)
Denfeld Jazz Band – “Up on the Housetop”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKZ0M8uzZC4
This video of the Denfeld Jazz Band’s arrangement of “Up on the Housetop” was created for the televised version of the Christmas City of the North Virtual Parade.
Video Archive: Christmas City of the North Parade 1998
Here it is, nearly two hours of KBJR-TV coverage of the Christmas City of the North Parade from Nov. 20, 1998. It was the first time the parade was routed onto Railroad Street in Canal Park, where KBJR was building its new studio.
See below for an index of parade entries if you want to find your favorite and not watch the whole broadcast. Also below, bonus footage: A portion of the KBJR newscast that preceded the parade. Both videos include most of the local commercials. National commercials were trimmed out, as were local commercials that repeated. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Christmas City, Wonderful City
You’ve been hearing it. You’ve been humming it. You probably know it by heart. Or do you? How much do you know about Duluth’s official Christmas song? Let’s find out!
Christmas City of the North Parade Stream
Hi folks. Especially the folks who are far away Duluthians, this could be good news for you.
I just got word in this nice little video from Kevin Jacobsen and LeAnn Wallace that the Christmas City of the North Parade will be streaming live at the Northland’s Newscenter website.
The twitter hashtag is #christmascityparade
Merv Griffin – “Christmas City”
Christmas city, wonderful city
All dressed up in snow and mistletoe
Christmas city, wonderful city
Come this Christmas to the Christmas city I’ll go (more…)
Christmas City of the North Parade 2009
Christmas City of the North Parade
Time to get your Parade on! Christmas City of the North Parade 2009 is Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:20. (more…)