One of the holiday traditions that brought so many of us joy were the annual Holiday and Flower shows in the 8th floor auditorium of Dayton's. They were massive, opulent and rivaled the displays of Macy's, Gimble's and Barney's. They were not a simple Holiday tree with Santa waiting at the end with a lollipop. They were works of art and craftsmanship set up in a labyrinth maze of panoramas that were animated beyond belief. By adding lighting, sound and even a musical score composed each year - they were fantasy wonder worlds.
For all that waited in lines, it was not a distraction along the way, but an event that propelled the whole trip to downtown Minneapolis during the season. Adding in the Holidazzle parades of the 90s, it became a festive Day trip. Who can forget the majestic Skyroom with booths of white and the grand piano serenading as you grabbed your holiday buffet or the Oak Grill if you wanted upscale and hot pop overs? Hot cocoa and fresh crepes on the sidewalk as you waited in the cold outside for the nightly parade to start. Or if you were lucky enough to nab one of the few spots in the skyways overhead. There was also skating on the ice at Peavey Plaza with holiday concerts - although the ice was never prime because of the endless hordes of people using it - but you could get skates sharpened easily there. So many things to do. These must have been the glory days of Holidays in downtown Minneapolis.
Here are just a few snapshots that take me back. I do know that our traditions change, disappear or adjust as time moves us forward. I do love the new Holidazzle in Loring Park with the skating rink, the beverage hall and board games and of course the giant Yeti! I also love the European Market & holiday movie nights over at Union Depot. With the opening of the revived Dayton's marketplace, perhaps it will return in some form. At least we have SantaBears in the windows which is something that had been missing for years now. Support local.
Attached is a link to a recent Mill City Times blog post by Michael Rainville Jr that lists some of its history as well as a detailed list for each years theme from the beginning in 1963 until the final closure.
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| Cinderella 1989 |
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| Dicken's Village 1967 |
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| Harry Potter 2000 |
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| The Polar Express 1988 |
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| Pinocchio 1991 - floor model |
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