Hundreds lined the streets of historic downtown Chesterton this past Friday to witness the Twilight Christmas Parade - a kickoff event for the Duneland community’s Hometown Holiday Celebration. Children and their families were cast in a vibrant glow from more than 40 lighted parade floats, most of which represented businesses and non-profit organizations from the Duneland area.
Connors Automotive and the Chesterton High School Pep Band led the parade, which stepped off from Chesterton Middle School before progressing down spectator-lined 6th Street, Broadway, Calumet and Porter Avenue. Candy was thrown, sirens were blown, and Santa Clause himself made his twilight debut on a shiny red Chesterton Fire Engine before greeting children in his Duneland House in Thomas Centennial Park.
“We love coordinating this parade every year,” says Heather Ennis, Executive Director of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce. “This event truly demonstrates the compassionate, energetic spirit of this community, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
To continue the celebration, Santa Clause will be in his house on Broadway to hear the Christmas wishes of Duneland’s boys and girls every Saturday leading up to Christmas from 10-Noon and 1-3pm. Each child will be gifted with an activity book and a candy cane. Visitors are asked to bring canned vegetables to Santa for him to deliver to local families in need.
For more information about upcoming holiday event, please contact the Duneland Chamber of Commerce at 219.926.5513 or info@dunelandchamber.org.