3 Mayors Join the Cleveland Light After Dark Parade

Photos: Shmuel Kessler

The 9th annual Light After Dark Menorah Parade brought the light of Chanuka to the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.

Organized by #ElevatingCLE, The Niggun Minyan, and Downtown Chabad and directed by the Bulua family, the Parade traveled through 4 cities and for more than 22 miles with menorah cars, floats, and Chanukah music to brighten Cleveland souls with the Chanukah lights.

“The parade usually ends at a large public Menorah lighting, but with that not possible this year, we decided to parade up and down as many residential streets as we could, knowing that many are home, not going out, and would not be able to experience Chanukah parties or gatherings,” organizers said.

“We also set out to make it the most visually exciting parade yet, a ‘mobile Chanukah party on wheels,'” they said.

The parade included bubble machines, 12-foot tall and 12-foot wide inflatable LED light-up Menorah, a 5-foot dreidel, and more.

During the parade, volunteers, some dressed as Maccabees and Dr. Dreidel, tossed out Chanukah goodies along the way, to children, and children at heart, including 1100 fillable dreidels, filled with chocolate gelt, a dreidel, candy, Chanukah stickers, bubbles, and a snack.

Broadcasting a specially mixed parade music track with Chanukah greetings from famous friends, the Parade included many decorated cars, a fire truck, and was joined by Mayor Jason Stein of Cleveland Heights and Mayor Martin Horwitz of Beachwood, as well as Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan of University Heights.

Many people waited out in the cold under blankets along the streets as the parade through.

A special highlight were the salutes by the University Heights Fire Department and Beachwood Fire Departments, who stood outside as the parade drove by.

“What made it the most special was seeing thousands of people come out safely, without congregating, along the entire route,” organizers said. “Even more people waved from windows. There were people camped out on their driveways with blankets anxiously awaiting the parade. It was really special to see yidden from across our entire wider Jewish community come out, from people who are not yet affiliated to the most yeshivish and chasidish. It was truly humbling and special. The parade itself was made up of a similarly diverse demographic,” they said.

Organizers thanked the Cuyahoga County Sheriff Parade Unit led by Captain Bill Welsh, and Deputies Herrera, Baez, and Joyce, for leading the Parade so safely and professionally. They also thanked the Cleveland Heights Police and University Heights Police Department for assistance.

Thank you to those who joined the car decorating contest and congratulations to our winners, the Galperins, Halberstams, and Browns.

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