The IECRM Holiday Parade Party was a Fun Family Event Located on the 9NEWS Parade of Lights Route – Here are the Recap & Photos!
A new tradition was born in 2017 when the Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) hosted its first Holiday Parade Party at a venue located on the 9NEWS Parade of Lights route to cheer on the Sparkling Ice Castle float, designed and built by IECRM members and apprentices. IECRM has continued to represent the float in the parade as a sponsor every year since. This year IECRM member companies pulled all of the floats with their company-branded trucks creating a strong industry presence in the parade (Click here to view the official Press Release). We are hopeful that this will become a longstanding tradition in the years to come.
WHAT IS THE HOLIDAY PARADE PARTY?
The Holiday Parade Party gives IECRM members and students the opportunity to get their families together at a holiday event and to make it their own tradition – whether a company party or just a family night out. Tickets include a gourmet holiday dinner, a Mac & Cheese bar, kids’ activities, a meet and greet with the Prince and Princess of IECRM’s Sparkling Ice Castle float, a visit and photos with Santa, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies with hot cocoa, and of course front-row views of Denver’s brightest holiday tradition. What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!
Discounted tickets were made available to IECRM students by the generous underwriting support of IECRM members ABB and Accent Electrical Services. Guests could also opt to pre-purchase valet parking at the hotel at a discounted rate for a hassle-free parking experience.
2021 HOLIDAY PARADE PARTY RECAP
The Holiday Parade Party was held from 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the elegant Magnolia Hotel located on the parade route. As guests arrived, they had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with the Prince and Princess of IECRM’s Sparkling Ice Castle float, both of whom are electrical apprentices enrolled in IECRM’s 4-Year Electrical Training Program. After the Prince and Princess made their rounds, Santa himself arrived full of cheer to visit with guests and take photos before heading out to be in the parade.
The gourmet holiday dinner included a Garden Salad with Breadsticks, Garlic & Herb Roasted Turkey Breast served with Orange, Cranberry Chutney and Gravy, and Smoked Paprika and Dijon Rubbed Pork Loin, served with Chipotle Barbeque and Stone Ground Mustard. The Mac‘N Cheese Bar included Homestyle Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with a choice of additional toppings including bacon, blackened chicken, asparagus tips, fresh herbs, and an assortment of different cheeses. It was a big hit with adults and kids alike!
There were plenty of fun activities for kids to enjoy thanks to IECRM sponsors, Brug Electric and Corey Electrical Engineering, while adults networked with friends and colleagues. Activities included oversized checkers, reindeer ring toss, snowball toss, holiday ornaments, coloring the Ice Castle Float, holiday movies, festive temporary tattoos, and more.
As the time grew closer to step outside to watch the parade, party guests were filled with excitement to cheer on the IECRM Sparkling Ice Castle float and the organization’s members’ trucks, making the parade that much more electrifying! It was a perfect night for an outdoor parade with weather warm enough for just a light jacket. For those who preferred to stay indoors, the parade was also available to watch via live stream.
“There was a sense of pride among the organization that evening as the electrical industry had representation during the entire electrical parade!” said Marilyn Akers Stansbury, IECRM CEO.
SPECIAL GUESTS
The Prince and Princess of the Sparkling Ice Castle were IECRM apprentices Christian Veeder (Custom Electrical Contractors) and Angelique Montoya (Kenny Electric) who rode atop the float to wave to the parade viewers. Additionally, IECRM members and their families walked in the parade spreading cheer and sporting the logos of sponsoring companies on the back of specially lit safety gear – a fun twist on the typical gear that electricians wear daily on the job.
WHY DID IECRM BUILD A FLOAT?
The IECRM Sparkling Ice Castle float was designed and built in 2017 by its members and electrical apprentices to promote the career path of the electrician to the hundreds of thousands of parade viewers by showcasing a bright and brilliant display of their talented work. Learn more here.
“The float is illuminated by an array of state-of-the-art, energy-efficient lighting features, color-changing LED lights, and fiber optics – a true engineering masterpiece,” said Paul Lingo, IECRM Training Director.
Click here to view photos and read about the IECRM members that pulled the parade floats!
The walkers surrounding the Ice Castle are real electricians and electrical industry partners that are decked out in a fun and electrifying twist on the typical safety gear that electricians wear on the job.
More than 100,000 people lined the streets of Denver to watch the parade in person and the estimated total number of viewers of the broadcasts and YouTube stream is 100,000, for an audience reach of over 200,000.
Thank You to the IECRM Members that Pulled the 2021 9NEWS Parade of Lights Floats and Sponsored the Parade Viewing Party.
Apprentice & Families Ticket Underwriting Sponsors
Kids Activities Sponsors
Brug Electric, Inc.
Corey Electrical Engineering, Inc.
Parade Truck Sponsors – The companies listed below are hiring now.