“Remember the Magic:” Dayton Holiday Show Documentary Unveils a Close White Bear Lake Connection
For over 50 years, the Minnesota holiday season was synonymous with Dayton’s 8th-floor, where the department store’s spectacular holiday shows captivated audiences with a blend of artistry, imagination, and holiday cheer. Now, almost a decade after its final show, it has become a memory to the many who got to witness its magic.
This year, Twin Cities PBS offers a nostalgic look back at the beloved tradition with their documentary, “Remember the Magic: A Look Back at the Dayton’s Holiday Shows.” Premiering on TPT on December 17, the film explores the legacy of the time-honored tradition and highlights the creativity and dedication that went into its yearly extravaganza.
One of the key elements to making it all happen? Dan Mackerman, renowned Twin Cities artist and beloved White Bear Center for the Arts teaching artist. For 22 years, Dan helped bring the magic of Dayton’s holiday shows to life as the lead artist and designer. Dan and his life-long painting experience were responsible for directing the creation of over 1,000 sculptures and assisting in the design of 25 large-scale installations — transforming Dayton’s from a department store to a wintery dreamland.
Dan’s has long been a Twin Cities staple. His contributions reach far and wide across the state with work at Prince’s Paisley Park, The Mayo Clinic, and the Children’s Hospital of Minneapolis. But it was through his work at Dayton’s that his reputation spread to places as far as Disney and The Smithsonian Institute National Building Museum.
Through archival footage, behind-the-scenes looks, and interviews with visitors and artists like Dan, “Remember the Magic” peels back the curtain revealing the magic and intricate craft behind the cherished tradition that Minnesotans will remember forever.
“Remember the Magic” premiered on TPT 2 and the PBS App on December 17, 2024.
