On Dec. 7, Lakewood residents lined up along Detroit Avenue to watch the Light Up Lakewood Parade and enjoy the many other wonderful events the festival offers. This event has been a yearly tradition for nearly two decades, always occurring on the first Saturday of December. Light Up Lakewood features fireworks, live music, ice carvings, and more, but the holiday parade is one of the most significant events of the evening.
LakewoodAlive has proudly hosted Light Up Lakewood for the past 18 years. Throughout the evening, the festival provides a variety of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. The atmosphere is relaxed, allowing individuals and families to walk the streets of Lakewood and partake in any or all of the evening’s events they wish, including the holiday parade.
With a festivity this large, LakewoodAlive receives support from sponsors to ensure that Light Up Lakewood runs smoothly and serves everyone. Sponsors include First Federal Lakewood, Larsen Architects, Geiger’s, Lakewood Catholic Academy, Lakewood Public Library, and others, with Shinn Law Firm sponsoring the parade itself. Members of First Federal Lakewood also participate as parade walkers.
Light Up Lakewood kicks off at 4 p.m. with various small activities, including food trucks, markets, and outdoor vendors, while the parade begins an hour later. Parade participants line up near Belle before 5 p.m., and once it starts, the short route moves westward down Detroit to Arthur.
“It was a very short parade compared to other parades,” said Senior Varsity Cheerleader Ella Munn, comparing it to the Fourth of July and Homecoming parades.
The holiday parade is one of the larger events of the night due to the many participating groups, with numerous Lakewood High School students involved through the marching band, cheerleading, and other organizations.
Seniors Joseph Gregg and Sophia Lipowski led the Lakewood Marching Band through the parade. The Lakewood Marching Band has performed in the Light Up Lakewood parade for years. “I’m not sure how many years the Lakewood Marching Band has participated, but we have done it every year I have been at Lakewood, and I started in 2014,” said Lakewood Band Program Director Clinton Steinbrunner.
After countless hours rehearsing in the heat of summer and the cool breeze of fall, their performance in the parade marks the end of their season.“They have worked hard and made huge progress since we began rehearsing in June. Not only has their musicianship and marching improved, but they have grown as a community and do a fantastic job supporting each other and the other bands we see throughout the season,” Steinbrunner noted.
Playing in freezing weather can make it difficult for wind instruments to stay in tune, but the marching band persevered, sporting the most festive outfits of all the parade participants and playing joyfully to conclude their 2024 season.“The parade was a lot of fun, it was a nice way to end the marching band season,” said freshman member Allison Demaline.
This year, Lakewood Cheer performed for the first time in the Light Up Lakewood parade. In previous years, they were unable to participate due to a concurrent boys’ basketball game.“We usually have to cheer at the St. Ed’s game, but didn’t this year,” Munn explained. “Being in Light Up Lakewood was a very enjoyable experience.”
Lakewood Cheer also hosted a youth camp to give younger kids the opportunity to cheer in the parade. “We had nine youth campers, which is not a lot compared to the past,” Munn said. “All of them seemed very happy to be there, and definitely very cold too.”
The Light Up Lakewood parade is memorable for both spectators and participants. “It was very nice getting to see all of the people in the crowd,” Munn added.
“My favorite part of the parade is getting to perform for the community and how festive the students are. They do a terrific job decorating their instruments and dressing up for the season!” Steinbrunner said.
The parade and event are great ways for the community to come together. Not only does it spread holiday cheer throughout the city, but it is also a phenomenal way to end the year. It is an event that many look forward to every year and, hopefully, one that future generations will continue to host.
