State of the Re:Union happily shares the story of a little town in Wisconsin promoting and perpetuating true holiday spirit with a tradition that aims to bring the community closer. (Click here to watch a short clip or read the article in its entirety.)

Source: http://wtm.irose.com -- The Winterdaze Parade in Menomonie, WI

The town of Menomonie, Wisconsin, is doing its best to ensure that holiday cheer will bring their town closer together and help out community businesses through its WinterDaze Parade. This event transforms downtown into a winter wonderland. It also encourages shopping, eating and enjoyment at local shops and restaurants, keeping businesses involved and in touch with the community. These businesses are all too happy to help put on the parade and bring the city a little closer for the holidays, and as a result, its downtown is thriving.

For eight years now, the WinterDaze Parade has been giving the community a reason to come together in celebration. According to Weau.com, before the parade starts, area businesses are filled with people and families getting warm, eating, and perusing and purchasing items to pass the time until the floats start “rolling down the road to welcome in the holiday season.” This year the parade touted the likes of Rudolph and Santa to gather residents and help all get into the holiday spirit.

Source: flickr.com -- WinterDaze holiday parade and fireworks in Menomonie, WI

The year-long planning of this fantastic event is labor intensive, but a labor of love, and it shows. Twenty-five downtown businesses helped sponsor the festivities, and according to Michaela Spencer with the Cedar Corporation, they adorn their windows with decorations and displays “to help keep it fun and interesting to shop downtown.”

Men, women and children come together to line the festive streets once the parade begins. Residents gathering for the event all echo the same sentiment – “I love that it’s a good sense of community,” states one. Another says, “It’s nice to see the community join together and come downtown.” And yet another agrees that “The community feel around Menomonie is great, we love it.” But the general consensus is given by one woman as she says, “It’s very fun – everyone’s happy for the holidays.”

Traditions change from region to region, but celebration remains a common thread. Commonalities also exist whether you partake in Hanukkah, Christmas, or any other holiday – these core principals are among them all: community, family and celebration. What are some things happening in your community this season serving as a focal point of togetherness and celebration? Use the box below to bestow unto us some holiday cheer.