Crowds line the streets of Cedar Avenue to take in the city’s brightest night — the annual Holiday Lighted Parade. A record 90 floats were showcased in the 2022 event. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism celebrates the community being selected as the location for the 2023 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
The Grinch was a busy character Thursday night, dancing and interacting with the crowd on a variety of floats. He made sure to cut out some time, however, to get a quick workout on the Cybex float. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
Crowds line the streets of Cedar Avenue to take in the city’s brightest night — the annual Holiday Lighted Parade. A record 90 floats were showcased in the 2022 event. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism celebrates the community being selected as the location for the 2023 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
All of that and more was found illuminated in Owatonna's downtown district Thursday night with the return of the annual Holiday Lighted Parade. Organized by the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and the Owatonna MainStreet program, the parade showcased a record 90 floats from local businesses, organizations, agencies and teams.
The 2022 Owatonna High School Carolers finish off the night with traditional Christmas songs. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
Following the parade, the remaining crowd gathered in Central Park for the annual lighting of the park. This year, special guest Anthony Young — along with family and friends — was the luckily community member to "flip the switch." Young was involved in a life-threatening car accident in July and is now on his miraculous journey of recovery. Young and his crew led the countdown from 10, which the crowd joyfully joined in, cheering as the lights climbing the trees and touching all corners of the park shined brightly.
Owatonna Chief of Police Jeff Mundale hands out goodies Thursday night to the kids lining Central Park for the parade. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
The Grinch was a busy character Thursday night, dancing and interacting with the crowd on a variety of floats. He made sure to cut out some time, however, to get a quick workout on the Cybex float. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
A group of local judges also announced the winner of this year's best float, a tradition that began in 2019. Judges Vern Wilker, Ryan Gillespie and Jim Packard named Above and Beyond Abilities the winner with the Star Wars-themed float, including a Chewbacca on stilts and in a Christmas sweater, among many other beloved characters. Above and Beyond is now back-to-back float champs, taking the prize last year for their Frozen-themed float.
FoamCraft Packaging , INC., displays their Polar Express float, which got an honorary mention from the judges. (Annie Harman/southernminn.com)
