The Kauai Rotary Club Lights on Rice holiday parade is coming on Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Rice Street.
With about 60 floats and units registered, and more than 2,000 walking participants, the annual lights extravaganza highlights a day that includes the day-long Kauai Museum Christmas Craft Fair that starts at 9 a.m. and runs until the end of the lighted parade — approximately 8 p.m.
The combination of both major events brings the spirit of the holidays to Lihue, similar to the feelings of joy and the magic of the holidays created during the second tree-lighting at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Friday, and the premiere of the Holiday Lights presentation on Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai lighting included the opening of the resort-created Gingerbread Village that will be available for viewing through the holidays. The opening was also spiced with a cookie-making station punctuated with the appearance of Santa for a meet-and-greet, including photos. Entertainment was provided by an encore appearance of Kamahao Thronas and friends.
Harvey Maeda and the Kauai Classic Cars, expected to be in the Friday Lights on Rice parade, was joined by The Grinch, and special lemonade sampling and purchases from Aloha Lemonade welcomed hundreds of people that braved the passing showers for the premiere of the Kukui Grove Holiday Light Spectacular, a combination of lights set to music.
The lights show is a part of the Countdown to Christmas and is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. from Dec. 6. The show goes nightly from Dec. 18 through 23, starting at 7 p.m.
The Kauai Museum Christmas Craft Fair features island crafts, local food vendors such as the traditional Kaiola Canoe Club Hawaiian plate lunches, and the return of the Joe Grace lunchwagon that will be operated by Joe’s family. There will be more food vendors, and a day of programming benefiting the Kauai Historical Society.
Kauai High School alumnus and entertainer Glenn Medeiros, the current Head of School at St. Louis School on Oahu, will be at the Kauai Museum courtyard from noon to 2 p.m. to talk about his book, “From One Stage to Another.”
Destash Hawaii Vintage Mu‘u and Alohawear, Fonda’s Daughter Vintage and Antique Treasures of Hanapepe, and the ‘Ohana Kanahele with Pupu Ni‘ihau will be available with their respective treasures at the Kauai Museum courtyard from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additionally, the Kauai Historical Society will be available with special sales on their book title offering as well as ticket sales for their upcoming Mu‘umu‘u Paina.
All of this adds spice to the Lights on Rice holiday parade that starts from the Vidinha Stadium parking lot and travels on Rice Street to Eiwa Street adjacent to the Kauai Museum and the lawn of the historic County Building. The trees there were recently decorated by Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, and the crews of the county’s Kauai Fire Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and Public Works Department with assistance from the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
The lights are on nightly from 6 to 11 p.m., and from 4 to 7 a.m. for everyone to enjoy.
More lights come on Saturday at the Koloa Village shopping center, and Waimea hosts its annual free Lighted Christmas Parade on Dec. 20 when the main highway closes at the Waimea Bridge from 5 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-0453 or at dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island