Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

It was cold, but Cloquet's Santa's Home For the Holidays celebration last week was a warm embrace of the season with a flurry of activity, including the Saturday night parade downtown with Santa and Mrs. Claus in a sleigh, delighting children along the route. Fireworks punctuated the end of the parade, capping off three days of events.

As Old Man Winter brings lower temps and longer nights, Santa Claus and his helpers arrived with a special kind of magic during the annual Santa's Home for the Holidays celebration last week in Cloquet.

Old St. Nick was everywhere. Reading stories at the library, posing for photos at Queen of Peace and, of course, cruising down Cloquet Avenue in a bright red sleigh during the Saturday evening's parade.

Amber Nichols

Even when Santa wasn't present, there was a warmth to community gatherings as people came together for food, music, shopping, and an abundance of cookies and candy.

Residents of all ages turned out to see the brightly lit floats as they made their way down Cloquet Avenue, propelled by good cheer, good music and good company. Santa-topped trophies went to Kolar Automotive for Best Lit, Lakehead Harvest Festival for Most Festive and Shooting Stars Dance for Judge's Choice.

A fireworks display over Veterans Park and downtown Cloquet ended the three-day event with a bang (or several), as families wandered back home to warm up and keep that holiday spirit sparkling.