…. 3 … 2 … 1 — trip the lights — fantastic!

Main Street was lined with thousands of holiday revelers for Ashland’s 31st annual Festival of Light Celebration Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
November 25, 2023

Parade, gathering on Plaza launch Ashland’s Festival of Light

Thousands gathered along East Main Street on Friday as Santa and Mrs. Claus, preceded by a marching band, dancers, stilt walkers and two-legged “reindeer” made their way from the Ashland Public Library to Ashland Plaza. The crowds closed in and followed, filling the Plaza to watch as Santa led a countdown to to the lighting of tens of thousands of lights illuminating downtown buildings, trees and poles, followed by caroling. For more on Festival of Lights activities, click here.

The reindeer take a selfie with Santa and Mrs. Claus before the start of the parade in downtown Ashland Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
An Ashland Middle School band member warms up before leading Santa and Mrs. Claus down Main Street for Ashland’s 31st annual Festival of Light Celebration Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Sam Schuh skips her way down Main Street to get to the start of Ashland’s 31st annual Festival of Light Celebration Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Platt family joined the parade with a festive carriage featuring Karen Platt, dressed as a gingerbread person, The family repurposed their Halloween parade entry and added new costumes for Christmas. Husband Michael and daughter Roxanne pulled the carriage down the street. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Santa’s sled was accompanied by reindeer as he moved through downtown Ashland. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Acacia Hawk, 9, from Ashland wore lighted wings as part of the Ashland Aerial Arts group, which features stilt walkers in most every local parade, in the 31st annual Festival of Lights parade in downtown Ashland. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Mt. Ashland parade entry celebrated 60 years of sking. The ski season is expected to begin on Dec. 9. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Towering over parade onlookers Wanda the Winter Queen puppet danced up Main Street. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Danceworks entry featured 45 students ages 5 to 18 who danced their way down Main Street to holiday music. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Lilly, 6, and Calvin, 8, Brown from Medford posed for a holiday photo with the Gingerbread person after the lights came on in downtown Ashland. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The temperature was cold but spirits were warm at the Ashland Plaza for the annual Festival of Lights celebration Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Ashland Plaza was full of people celebrating the start of the holiday season at Ashland’s 31st annual Festival of Light Celebration Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Santa Claus greeted a Plaza full of fans from the balcony of the Brick Room restaurant before leading a countdown to officially turn on the lights and open the holiday season in Ashland Friday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
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Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

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