Christmas Posts

Duluth’s Christmas of 1889 was finer than ever

This Christmas card from Duluth jeweler Andrew Jackson promotes a special holiday sale 130 years ago, featuring “greatly reduced prices.”

Merry Christmas from Northern Drug Company of Duluth

Selective Focus: Santa Claus

Select Instagram images of jolly old St. Nick.

Christmas Greetings from Aunt Lois and Uncle Hermie

Aunt Lois and Uncle Hermie send Christmas greetings from Duluth to their niece in Beverly Hills.

Superior Siren – “Last Christmas”

Duluth’s Superior Siren perform “Last Christmas” by Wham. Video by Michelle Bennett

Selective Focus: Holiday Pop-ups

The Thanksgiving weekend blizzard wreaked havoc on Small Biz Saturday and some of the Pop-Ups in town, but we have tried to update this list with the rescheduled events.

These are the true “get ’em while you can” offerings, pop-up markets where a wide variety of art, food products, clothing products and more are on display. There are usually snacks, maybe some hot chocolate, and lots of other people milling about, so the atmosphere is a lot more fun that adding things to your online cart.

Some are small, some are huge. Each market has its own vibe, check the websites and event pages for special instructions on parking, hours etc.

Let us know what markets we’ve missed in the comments, or by sending an email.

Video: Burntside Lake Christmas Ice Carousel

Joe Bianco and Cam Regan of Ely built a giant Christmas carousel on Burntside Lake, about 100 miles north of Duluth.

It’s Going to be a Merry Christmas

John Holden obtains a set of fancy speakers in the grocery store parking lot.

Christmas Greetings from Lester Park in Duluth, Minn.

Ingeborg von Agassiz – “The Holly & the Ivy”

A short little Christmas tune from Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.

One more year for Marcia Hales’ holiday light display

Marcia Hales’ “Holiday Spirit in the Lights” display in Duluth’s Park Point neighborhood is returning for a final run.

Owls Club Big Band – “Carol of the Bells”

Certainly you’ve heard this tune based on a Ukranian folk song. This year we’re introducing a new Duluthian folk tale to go along with it. The music was performed at the Owls Club by the Owls Club Big Band; recorded and mixed by Darin Bergsven.

Reminder: Band registration for Homegrown is now open; the 21st annual festival will happen April 28 to May 5. Homegrown music mixes are available all year long through Bandcamp at duluthhomegrown.bandcamp.com.

PDD Gift Guide 2018

Find something for everyone on your gift-giving list with PDD’s annual curated gift guide. It’s a bit different than most gift guides in that it’s not a list of stores that advertise with PDD — it’s a list of items created in our region, chosen simply because they are nifty.

Holiday Traditions next to Red Kettles

The Red Kettles are out, and the adorable man next to the adorable eagle is my friend.

The teddy bear on the left is Tim Broman; “Earnie” the eagle on the right is Cara Ellis. As you might guess from the fairly cheesy pun in “Earnie,” Cara is a mortgage specialist at Northern Communities Credit Union, where Tim is a customer service representative.

They are standing outside Cub Foods, where I bought some tasty sushi yesterday, inspired by the PDD post about Wasabi.

I didn’t realize that local businesses partnered with the Salvation Army in this way. I appreciate the generosity of NCCU, I shame my friend Tim for making the lady wear the costume (a gentleman would have worn the scratchy sweaty suit) and I wonder whether any other businesses and organizations partner in this way in the holidays. Post below if you will be ringing this season, please?

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 20 years ago — 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. 

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