Shining Bright — the Parade of lights and our future
Last Friday night, I stood on a downtown street surrounded by thousands of neighbors, cold air, bright lights, and the sound of a lion dance echoing through the crowd — and I thought: this is exactly it. This is the city I'm running for.
The Parade of Lights has always been one of those Sioux Falls moments that feels bigger than the sum of its parts. It's not just floats and holiday music. It's the whole city showing up in the same place, at the same time, for no other reason than to celebrate being here together.
How We Showed Up
This year our campaign walked in the parade for the first time — and we didn't just walk.
We brought Asian lion dancers from the Vietnamese community, a tradition close to my heart and my family's story. Watching those lion costumes move through downtown Sioux Falls, with volunteers from our campaign walking alongside them, felt like exactly the kind of thing this city needs more of. A celebration of where we come from, woven right into the fabric of a beloved Sioux Falls tradition.
I can't thank our volunteers enough. You showed up on a cold November night, dressed warmly, carried signs, and brought energy that lit up the parade route. You are what this campaign is made of.
What I Was Thinking About
Walking those blocks, I kept coming back to a simple question: what does this city look like for the kids watching from the sidewalk tonight?
Do they grow up and stay? Do they leave and want to come back? Do they feel like Sioux Falls has room for them — for their dreams, their families, their futures?
That's not an abstract policy question to me. It's personal. I grew up in this city as the kid of immigrants who bet everything on Sioux Falls being the kind of place where hard work leads somewhere. They were right. But that promise isn't automatic. It has to be tended to.
A Vibrant Community means our downtown stays alive — not just during the holidays, but year-round. It means small businesses that line these parade routes have the support they need to stay open. It means public spaces that feel welcoming and safe for every family, every season.
Equal Opportunity means the kid watching from the sidewalk in any neighborhood — the east side, the west side, north or south — sees the same future available to them. Safe streets to walk. Good schools nearby. A city that invested in their block the same way it invested in every other one.
Responsible Growth means we build in a way that keeps Sioux Falls the kind of city people actually want to come home to. Not just bigger — better.
Thank You
To everyone who walked with us, cheered us on, or just smiled and waved as we passed: thank you. Nights like that remind me exactly why this campaign matters.
We're just getting started. And if last Friday was any indication, we are not doing this alone.
There's a special feeling in the air in Sioux Falls. It's a warmth that goes beyond the holiday lights.
Let's keep building on it.
Let's rise together. ☀️
— Vince Danh Candidate, Sioux Falls City Council At-Large | June 2nd 2026
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