One of the things that I really love about the town we live in is the amazing community spirit.
Having always lived in much larger cities, I am not used to these town wide community events that see all the local businesses, schools, churches and community groups come together and organise activities for the whole family.
Halloween is wonderful, with the downtown Trick or Treat event, but it’s not a patch on Home for the Holidays!
The events kicked off with the tree lighting ceremony and carols on Friday evening. After a (very) long week, none of us were up for a late evening, so we didn’t make it to this – but by all accounts it was great!
On Saturday there were events all over town, with a free Trolley (bus) service looping through the town taking people from one activity to another. There were carol performances, reindeer and pony rides; craft fairs, face painting and balloon animals. There was cookie decorating, t-shirt decorating, a petting zoo and Santa. Businesses were handing out gift bags and candy canes. There were Open Houses where you could meet local business owners, and have a cup of hot chocolate or mulled cider (apple juice!) and sample a festive nibble!
You couldn’t possibly do everything that was on offer, so we decided to stay close to home. Even just sticking to our (very) local businesses we visited the petting zoo, decorated cookies, enjoyed hot chocolate and hot cider, played mini golf, picked up goodie bags and had a hayride with Santa! We left home with the sprinkling of snow from the night before still on the ground and walked home in the chilly sunshine, ready for a rest!
The kids had a fantastic time: bumping into friends; eating yummy cookies; enjoying marshmallow treats; petting goats and yaks and llamas; meeting Santa (well, one of his helpers anyway!).
It might not be quite the same as a bustling Christmas Market, but to see all the local business owners and community groups open their doors to the kids and help put on such wonderful, fun, activities is truly heart warming.
It sounds amazing. Would love to be a part of that community spirit. We went on a Santa lantern parade recently and agree that its great to get involved in the spirit and the feeling.
It is lovely, we bumped into so many people that we knew, really good fun!
That’s really lovely – like living inside a story book. What a fab opportunity.
It is a bit if I’m honest, but in a good way, which has surprised me a little :)
This sounds lovely – the people in the area you live can make a huge impact on your life and how you feel can’t they, so glad you have nice ones :)
They really do, don’t they – and I think we’ve been so lucky to end up where we are xx
That sounds like an amazing community.
What a lot of fun for the children.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
It really is, and I love how the kids will meet friends wherever we go :) Thanks for hosting x
That sounds totally brilliant, and what a great Father Christmas too! :)
It was great – and the Santa’s here seem to take their job very seriously :)
What a fab day, looks like the kids really enjoyed themselves :) You can’t beat a bit of community spirit! #letkidsbekids
You really can’t, there was such a great atmosphere :)
Sounds fab!
I love it when a community really gets into the spirit of things. Your town sounds lovely. #LetKidBeKids
Me too, it’s really special. Our town is lovely, I feel very lucky :)
I swear that must be the real Father Christmas, how authentic does he look? Looks like a lot of fun :)
He’s good isn’t he?! The Santa’s here are all very good :)
Wow how fantastic! Sounds like such great community spirit! :-) Wish it was like this over in England! X
It is wonderful. I wonder if villages in the UK manage this, I’ve only ever lived in cities…