The Christmas Stroll

Here in Bozeman, the annual Christmas stroll is as much a part of Christmas as...these decorations:

I believe at one point the city of Bozeman tried to dispose of these decorations.  I mean, let's be honest, they're old, kind of scraggly, and THEY LOOK LIKE GIANT INVERTED SPIDERS. Public outcry was so great, however (probably from crazy people like me who can't feel like it's really Christmas without them), that the lighted spiders still appear every year, suspended between buildings on Main Street.

The feeling of the stroll is a lot like the Jerusalem Light Festival (for those of you who experienced that), just smaller and waaaayyy colder.

Yes.  That's Fahrenheit.  Luckily, it stayed above zero this year.  Some strolls aren't so warm.  

The stroll kicks off around 4:30.  Detours go up earlier in the day, forcing all traffic away from Main Street as different organizations set up their booths to sell a variety of food and (hot) drinks.  

Katie enjoys a "Big Apple" from the Leaf and Bean

Things don't really start hopping until after dark, when the spiders have been lit for the night and the cold begins to seep into one's bones.

Notice a lot more people in this picture than the previous one.

Some highlights from this year include (but are not limited to):
Alpacas!

 A living Christmas tree handing out candy.

 Gingerbread houses.  I think this one was my favorite.  The look of stone work and stained glass reminded me of Israel.  Also, the whole square-castle-surrounded-by-a-moat look reminded me of Belvoir.

 This creative contraptions that roasted marshmallows.

 A nod to Hanukkah.  (Chag Hanukkah Sameach!)

 A Living Nativity.  It was good, really, but having spent last Christmas in Israel, and Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, I had to laugh.  The picture of the nativity commonly held here is NOTHING like reality.  Well, both have a baby.  I guess that's something.

 A lady and her sheep.

 Turkey legs!

 There were, of course, the usual number of run-ins between dogs and meltdowns by overly tired and cold children, but overall it was a good stroll.  And now it officially feels like Christmas time.