Fighting a frigid Friday in early December, New Canaan hosted its annual holiday stroll filling the town with exuberance. The event, enjoyed by all ages, kicked off at 5:00 pm and ended around 9:30 pm. It took place on New Canaan’s main thoroughfare, Elm Street, which
is packed with stores and restaurants running up and down the street. The temperature hit a low of 29 brisk degrees Fahrenheit, with a ‘real feel’ of 22, making it crucial for strollers to wear multiple layers. The cold weather contributed to shorter visits for many, with most people leaving around 7:30pm. Lights were hung (with care) on all the storefronts and trees, while lampposts were decorated with wreaths, garlands, and a tag honoring a family’s name and donation to the holiday stroll. 13 year old, Connor Gilligan, said about the event, “It’s a good way to get out with your friends and walk around the town to see the lively environment and watch the performances.”
Food was a major component in the stroll. Hundreds of people making reservations, packing restaurants, and filling up ice cream stores. For example, cookies were available in one retail store Vineyard Vines. They handed out free sugar cookies with their iconic whale logo printed on top of it. The delectable cookies brought in many customers as well as stopping in to grab Christmas gifts for family members. Restaurants were filled to the brim with families catching a bite to eat; some popular restaurants to eat dinner were Sole, Blackbird, Elm, and Chef Luis. After dinner, people swiftly made their way to the renowned waffle cabin – a huge hit with a wait of up to 20 minutes. They had coffee and fresh belgian waffles with or without chocolate syrup – a holiday stroll essential!! Although there was an abundance of sweet treat options, when asked most said they would prefer more food trucks. Specifically, Connor Gilligan expressed that, “More food trucks would’ve made finding something to eat easier. Next year, it would be cool to see multiple food trucks with a lot of options.”
Among the entertainment offerings, there were notable performances by two local dance troupes: the New Canaan Dance Academy (NCDA) and the New England Academy of Dance (NEAD). Both put on charming Christmas themed dances with festive music and costumes, with NEAD showcasing snippets of the seasonally classical Nutcracker. These shows brought the crowd together, enhancing the collective holiday spirit. For little ones, special appearances were made by Santa Claus, The Grinch, and Buddy The Elf. The trio took pictures with kids and handed out candy canes which was a fun opportunity for kids to be able to see their favorite christmas characters come to life. Something brand new for the 2024 stroll was the retail store, Laurent Ranch. The ‘western chic’ store opened right after Thanksgiving, just in time for the holiday shopping season. They have western hats, apparel, boots, and customizable jewelry — definitely a must-visit for the Christmas shopping experience.
The event is an incredible way to kick off the Christmas season in this small New England town, while also serving to help our small business owners. I hope everyone has the opportunity to experience this event in the future and express their holiday cheer.
