Maxzyne and the Old Horse Theatre

Light's up!

A wonderful event in Chicago brightens the calendar every year in late November. Everyone looks forward to the Festival of Lights parade on Michigan Avenue because it is a spectacle of sparkle. That one special evening kicks off the holiday retail rush in a brilliant extravaganza of lights, excited shoppers, tourists, starstruck children and whimsical floats. It can be cold and windy on the Majestic Mile, but it's worth the extra pair of socks you might need for warmth for the duration of the parade. Squealing kids bounce high on adult shoulders. Red-cheeked tots reach out from strollers with sticky candy cane hands, begging for balloons or hot popcorn. There is always an abundance of Santa hats, striped scarves, jingle bells and glowing reindeer headbands as the crowd breathlessly awaits the magical moment. At last, the mayor flips the switch. In an instant, the wide avenue is transformed into a true winter wonderland of glittering lights. The wide sidewalks are bathed in a mist of colorful twinkling rays, each magnified by the reflections from the shop windows. The holiday has officially begun. What a crazy joyous start to the season. And no wonder I had to use it as the backdrop of this book!