The Lowell community came together to kick off the holiday season during the City of Lights Parade and Holiday Celebration on Nov. 29 with a day full of fun, food and activities for all.

The parade started at 4:30 p.m. on Jackson Street, and every participant did an amazing job. Live music was provided throughout the parade by various marching bands, including UMass Lowell’s who blew the crowd away.

The procession was filled with brightly-lit floats and candy given out to children in the crowd. Police, fire, ambulance and city vehicles were a big part of the parade, which was a great way to show their unity with the community.

One of the most anticipated events of the day was the Seventh Annual Hot Chocolate Contest. Brew’d Awakening won the competition, while Sweet Lydia’s finished second and Rosie’s Café placed third. Although they did not place, the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center participated as well.

The rest of the day’s events included Photos with Santa in front of City Hall, Holiday Art Exploratory for Kids on Market Street, Gentlemen Songsters Stroll Around Downtown and the Downtown Window Decorating Contest.

The name of the event comes from the symbolic start to the holidays after the lighting of downtown, City Hall and the Wannalancit Smokestack Tree. Every year this event is the perfect way to gather the community and help show support for local businesses and organizations.

Although the parade started later in the day, the festivities began earlier on at 10 a.m. Pollard Memorial Library hosted a Children’s Shopping Day in the morning which offered an array of donated used items for prices that ranged from $1 to $5. In addition to the “one-stop shopping” the library also offered gift wrapping for the children.

The afternoon offered a wide variety of activities to participate in, including the Third Annual Holiday Shopping Tour via the COOL Bus. The Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) Bus traveled throughout Downtown Lowell stopping at various museums, art galleries, and other local attractions, some of which included the American Textile History Museum, New England Quilt Museum, Mill No. 5 and the Lowell Gallery.

At the same time, the Holly Jolly Trolley ran continuously between the Boott Cotton Mills and the Visitor Center. UMass Lowell student athletes, accompanied by Rowdy the River Hawk, read holiday books to children in the River Hawk Shop at University Crossing.

The night came to a close with the UMass Lowell River Hawks vs. Harvard ice hockey game at the Tsongas Center, with an open skate after the game. It was a night to remember with family and friends, and if you didn’t get a chance to attend, there’s always next year!