Christmas Stroll has been a tradition on Nantucket for 34 years, a relatively short time by New England standards. According to the local Inquirer and Mirror, the Stroll was started by local merchants and the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce in response to the opening of the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. The opening of this traditional department store-anchored shopping center, owned and operated by one of my former employers, Simon Property Group, was a big deal back in 1974 since it was just a short ferry ride away from Nantucket and provided islanders a much broader selection of merchandise and prices for the first time. So the first Christmas Stroll was designed to entice Nantucketers to shop local. Today the Stroll draws crowds of off-islanders who either own second homes on island or who come over as tourists for the weekend--many of whom are dressed from head to toe in their furs--for shopping at Nantucket's tony shops and dining in the trendy restaurants. Other are daytrippers who come early in the morning in time for Santa and Mrs. Santa's arrival by Coast Guard boat but who get all their shopping and strolling completed in time for the final depature of the ferry or plane at the end of the day. Craig was a member of this year's Christmas Stroll caroling group (center of back row of carolers with top hat in photo) and braved the chilly winds to entertain the island's visitors strolling up and down cobblestoned Main Street and adjacent areas. Temperatures dipping down into the mid-20's, along with a few occasions of snowflake surprises from the sky, created a true holiday scene. Christmas trees decorated earlier in the week by local nonprofits, school groups and merchants provide a small town picture postcard. Now we'll see if the snow comes as forecasted for tonight to create a true winter wonderland before Christmas! Brrrr....
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