DULUTH, MN. (Northern News Now) - There will be multiple traffic changes for the Christmas City of the North Parade that takes place Friday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will start in front of Fitger’s at 6th Avenue East and Superior Street.

It will continue along Superior Street to 4th Avenue West.

Parade units will begin lining up at 4 p.m. on London Road between 10th and 14th Avenues East, and buses will be staging on the upper side of London Road from 14th to 17th Avenues East.

Marching bands and dance groups will exit the parade route at 4th Avenue West to buses waiting on Michigan Street. Floats will be dismantled in the 400 block of West Superior Street and exit the area at 5th Avenue West.

ROAD CLOSURES:

At 4 p.m., London Road will close to traffic from 10th to 14th Avenues East for parade line-up. Sections of 12th and 13th Avenues East and the 1300 block of Jefferson Street will also close for parade line-up.

Superior Street from 8th Avenue East to 12th Avenue East will close to traffic at 5:30 p.m., and Superior Street from 8th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West will close to traffic at 5:45 p.m.

Michigan Street will close at 6:15 p.m. to all traffic except for buses and local residents. Vehicles exiting Michigan Street lots and ramps during the closures will be directed to exit the area by driving south to the 5th Avenue West Off-Ramp.

Vehicles will not be allowed to enter the Fitger’s Ramp and Pickwick parking lots after Superior Street closes at 5:45 p.m. Vehicles will be allowed to exit these lots until 6:30 p.m. After 6:30 p.m., vehicles parked in the Fitger’s Ramp and Pickwick lots will not be allowed to exit until the Parade ends.

Downtown traffic should return to normal by approximately 8:30 p.m.

NO PARKING AREAS:

Motorists should be aware of the following no parking areas in Downtown Duluth and along London Road. Vehicles parked in these areas will be tagged and towed.

No Parking after 10 a.m. at posted meters in front of the Pickwick Restaurant.

No Parking after noon at meters on the upper side of Superior Street near Fitger’s.

No Parking after 3 p.m. on:

• Both sides of London Road, from 10th Avenue East to 14th Avenue East.
• The upper side of London Road, from 14th Avenue East to 17th Avenue East
• 12th and 13th Avenues East, from London Road to Superior Street.
• Jefferson Street, from 13th Avenue East to 14th Avenue East.
• The Rose Garden Parking Lot.

No Parking after 4 p.m. on Michigan Street from 5th Avenue West to 4th Avenue West.

No Parking after 5 p.m. on Superior Street from 10th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West.

DTA ROUTING:

DTA buses will use 1st Street between 5th Avenue West and 3rd Avenue East for all routes.

JEFFERSON BUS LINES:

Jefferson Line Buses will have access to the Duluth Transportation Center on Michigan Street to load and unload passengers.

DETOURS:

Eastbound Superior Street traffic will be detoured from 6th Avenue West to eastbound 2nd Street. Westbound Superior Street traffic will be detoured from London Road at 14th Avenue East and from Superior Street at 12th Avenue East to westbound 3rd Street. Tenth Avenue East will close to traffic from 1st Street to Superior Street.

I-35, DECC, and CANAL PARK ACCESS:

Lake Avenue will close between 1st Street and the I-35 ramps on the Lake Avenue Viaduct at 5:45 p.m. All I-35 ramps at Lake Avenue will remain open during the parade, but will only be accessible from the Canal Park side.

Access to Canal Park, Park Point, and the DECC will be via southbound 5th Avenue West to Railroad Street. All I-35 ramps at 5th Avenue West will remain open.

ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL ACCESS:

If approaching from the east, use available routes along 3rd Street or 1st Street to access the St. Luke’s Emergency Department located between 10th and 11th Avenue East on 2nd Street.

If approaching from the west, use available routes along 2nd Street and 4th Street to access the St. Luke’s Emergency Department located between 10th and 11th Avenue East on 2nd Street.

St. Luke’s Hospital parking is available along the street and in the parking ramp on the lower side of 1st Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues East. St. Luke’s employees should be aware of no parking restrictions starting at 3 p.m. on and near London Road.

SUGGESTED PARADE PARKING:

For the convenience of the thousands of people who converge downtown for this annual event, free parade parking is being offered again after 5 pm at the following ramps/lots:

• Fourth Avenue Auto Park—402 West Michigan Street
• Duluth Transportation Center—228 West Michigan Street
• Civic Center Ramp—410 West First Street
• Tech Village Ramp—10 East First Street
• HART Ramp—122 East Superior Street
• Medical District Ramp—302 East First Street
• Fitger’s---600 East Superior Street
• Phoenix Parking Lot---98 North 4th Avenue West
• St. Luke’s Lakeview Ramp—1001 East Superior Street
• St. Luke’s Employee Parking Lot—119 North 12th Avenue East
• St. Luke’s Building A Patient Lot—1015 East First Street
• First & First Parking Lot—First Avenue East and First Street

Entrance to the Michigan Street ramps will be limited after 6:15 p.m., but vehicles will be able to exit them throughout the parade.

Downtown parking meters will be free after 5:30 p.m., but there is no parking along the parade route on Superior Street.

Drivers should remain alert to pedestrian and parade traffic, be aware of no parking signs, and use caution when driving in the area of this event.

Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app.

Copyright 2023 Northern News Now. All rights reserved.