Singing, Strolling and Stilts

Every Thursday after Thanksgiving, Saratoga Springs reroutes traffic on Broadway to let dozens of hearty revelers wrapped in elegant embroidered coats and matching mitts stroll and sing on the city streets. Mutti and me weren't dressed nearly as fashionable but we still enjoyed the 21st annual Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk with friends Stacy, Jen and Kim. We joined everyday carolers belting out Christmas classics from beneath City Center and the town hall steps and then elbowed our way to our favorite restaurant. Young and old alike huddled together to make merry music that transformed the city into a Victorian winter wonderland. All shops stayed open an extra hour with some offering up free refreshments and festive window displays. The lineup at a famous gelato/popcorn establishment, whose name I shamefully can't remember (too many spiked cocoa's) stretched all the way back a block and a half. A tall lanky street performer dressed as one Santa's elves paraded around on 12 foot stilts for curious children. He bounced, danced and amused the crowd for hours perched high above everyone's heads. He even managed to bend his body backwards to navigate heavy restaurant doors and entertain our cast of characters as well. Nowhere could his presence have been more welcome than in the Circus Cafe!