Duluth's Greater Downtown Council announced that Christmas City of the North Parade participants and spectators will find plenty of free parking in Duluth’s Downtown on Friday November 16th, 2012.

 

The Annual Christmas City of the North Parade will begin at 6:20PM along Railroad Street. The parade will then follow a route along Lake Avenue to West Superior Street.

For the convenience of the thousands of people who converge on the Downtown for this annual event, free parade parking is being offered again after 5PM at the following ramps:

  • Shoppers Auto Park
  • Fourth Avenue Auto Park
  • US Bank
  • Tech Village
  • Medical District Ramp
  • East Superior Street Public Ramp

In addition to the ramps, parking meters will be free of charge after 5:30PM.

Traffic diversions will start at 2:00p.m. The parade should end approximately 8:30 p.m.

Starting at 2:00 p.m. Railroad Street between Lake Avenue and Canal Park Drive will be closed to facilitate the set up of KBJR’s television coverage .

At 3 pm the Railroad Street closure will be extended to Garfield Avenue for parade lineup.

At 6 pm the remainder of the Parade route will be closed to traffic.

The only access to the Canal Park area and Park Point will be from the Lake Avenue Viaduct to Canal Park Drive. Traffic around the Railroad Street area will be very limited. Lake Avenue South will be closed to northbound traffic at Buchanan Street, however the Lake Avenue entrance to Red Lobster will remain open. All other northbound traffic should detour to Canal Park Drive.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. I-35 Northbound and Southbound exits onto Lake Avenue will be closed for duration of the parade. Travelers going to Canal Park or Park Point will have to use alternate routes from the east to access Lake Avenue.

The only access to the D.E.C.C. , will be down 5th Avenue West to Harbor Drive, and around the back of the DECC to the East gate near the Irvin. Motorists are encouraged to take I-35 N/B to the 5th Ave West exit, or 6th Ave West to Michigan Street past the Depot to 5th Ave West and down to Harbor Drive.

Superior Street traffic should use Michigan, First, or Second Streets during the parade.

DTA buses will use 1st Street for Westbound routes, and 2nd Street for Eastbound routes.

No Parking:

-Superior Street after 5:00 p.m. from 6th Avenue West to Lake Avenue, both sides. This will include handicap zones.

-Michigan Street after 5:00 p.m., between 5th and 6th Avenues West, both sides. This will include handicap zones.

-Harbor Drive is no parking.

Cars parked in violation of the posted no parking may be tagged and towed after 5:00 p.m.

Here's a little something to help get you in the mood for the parade.  Listen "Christmas City" by Merv Griffin here:

 

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