Celebration & Relocation

spurned by Water Street, winter parade shifts to Grand Avenue

Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

IT BEGAN WITH A BLAST. Volume One’s own Holly Jolly Action Squad hit Water Street with its projectile teddy bear delivery device during the inaugural Clearwater Winter Parade in 2012. Last year, however, the bitterly cold weather caused the vintage 1967 Holly Jolly Action Van to break down, forcing the Holly Jolly Action Squad to get out and push. Right in front of the cameras on live TV. It was kinda embarrassing, but oh, the hilarious memories.
IT BEGAN WITH A BLAST. Volume One’s own Holly Jolly Action Squad hit Water Street with its projectile teddy bear delivery device during the inaugural Clearwater Winter Parade in 2012. Last year, however, the bitterly cold weather caused the vintage 1967 Holly Jolly Action Van to break down, forcing the Holly Jolly Action Squad to get out and push. Right in front of the cameras on live TV. It was kinda embarrassing, but oh, the hilarious memories.

After it was evicted from its original home on Water Street earlier this year, things were looking bleak for the Clearwater Winter Parade. And while the decision to keep it going nonetheless isn’t exactly a Christmas miracle, it’s good news for the thousands of Chippewa Vallians who for the past two Decembers gathered to celebrate the yuletide season.

“It would have been very easy to say, ‘No, we’re not going to do this anymore,’ ” says Dawn Comte, parade organizer and superintendent of recreation for the city. “But the West Grand Avenue business district has embraced this. They want it in their neighborhood.”

Despite the crowds – estimated at 8,000 in 2012 and 4,000 last year (when the weather was well below zero) – Water Street merchants said parade-related parking restrictions were cutting into their business just a few days before Christmas. In May, the Water Street Business Improvement District board voted against hosting the parade again this year, putting its future in doubt.

“That tells us that Eau Claire really supports this event, to come out in that kind of weather.” – Dawn Comte, Clearwater Winter Parade organizer, on the thousands of spectators who attended last year’s parade despite subzero temperaturesBut now a new route has been plotted and a new evening has been picked. The third annual Clearwater Winter Parade will be at 5pm Dec. 20 and will travel along West Grand Avenue, then turn onto First Avenue, and end at the intersection of Water Street.

West Grand Avenue businesspeople say they’re excited about the prospect of the parade. “When Parks and Rec came and asked us about it, I was kind of thrilled about having it in our area,” explains Laura Girolamo, manager of Girolamo’s Court’n House, 113 W. Grand Ave. While Girolamo understands how Water Street merchants might have been put off because of parking restrictions caused by the parade, she says she’s looking forward to attracting thousands of potential patrons to her family bar and grill’s doorstep. “For us, it just brings a new clientele down into our area,” she says.

As it was in 2012, this year’s parade will be on a Saturday, an evening that Comte believes is more amenable to such a celebration. Last year, the parade was held on a Sunday evening to appease Water Street businesses. However, that put the parade up against a Green Bay Packers game, which (coupled with frigid temperatures) led to an attendance drop.

Despite Old Man Winter’s onslaught last year, Comte notes that all 62 units scheduled to participate in the parade showed up, as did thousands of spectators. “That tells us that Eau Claire really supports this event, to come out in that kind of weather,” she says.

Last year’s subzero temps prompted additional tweaks this year. Among other things, walking units will go first in the parade (limiting the amount of time participates will have to stand out in the elements), and Comte is working to secure an indoor warming area (perhaps in the courthouse or a nearby search). In addition, riverside fireworks will go off at the start of (and throughout) the parade, rather than just at the end, as they did last year.

The parade – with its Santa-bedecked floats, antler-wearing dogs, color commentary from WEAU-TV, and “Rolling Through the Decades” theme – won’t be the only attraction on Dec. 20. After the parade, from 6-8pm, a family fun celebration will be held at Hobbs Ice Arena. As in past years, the party at Hobbs will feature outdoor fire pits, free hot chocolate and s’mores, free skating and other games, such as broomball, on the indoor ice rinks.

In other words, you’ll have plenty of reasons to bundle up, step outside, and celebrate the season with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Interested in taking part in the Clearwater Winter Parade? Contact Dawn Comte of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry at (715) 839-5032.