The Springfield holiday walk brings Christmas cheer!
The song Silver Bells opens with what I saw last night, “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style, in the air there’s a feeling of Christmas…”
My husband and I along with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law headed to Springfield to shop, walk and of course dine and found the streets of Springfield, Illinois all decked out for the holidays. The stores stayed open late and outside Dell’s Popcorn there was even a keyboard artist set up playing Christmas songs. What a great way to ring in the week before the holiday!
Tempting fudge that the shopkeeper at Dell’s said is made in house and tantalizing smells of popcorn filled the shop that calls my name at any time of the year. Walking out with a cache of nuts I felt almost saint like avoiding the chocolate and more sugary snacks. I am sure Santa approved.
My favorite part of the evening were the decorations the city had placed up and down the sidewalks mixed with the crisp air. The nice weather brought out the best in everyone and the shoppers all had a smile on their faces.
When you compare this experience to the dreary and harried shopping in a mall atmosphere, this was pure joy. A group of teenagers had created an Abe Lincoln mask or headgear they were wearing, shop keepers were full holiday cheer and at Widow at Windsor Antiques even had hot apple cider to ward off the December chill.
I must admit though that this has been the warmest December on record and the snow wasn’t falling, the ice wasn’t forming and though the wind was brisk, the weather was lovely.
Architectural antiques vied with paintings and jewelry along with our favorite evening find, trench art made out of spent shell casings at Widow at Windsor.
My sister-in-law and I both found a hat that suited us at Murphy’s Loft a store I visited for the first time last night. Then we topped off the night with appetizers from the delectable Obed & Isaacs a local brew pub housed in a historic home.
This was my first time visiting the Holiday Walk, but I think it may have to be a new tradition. Every Wednesday during from December from 5-8 the city shops stayed open late for Christmas shoppers. Held December 2, 9, 16, and 23. 5 pm – 8 pm each evening. If you are reading this and live in central Illinois, there is still one Wednesday left!
When I missed Santa at the Old State Capital, I might just have to go back and have a chat with Old St. Nick about what I would like to find under my tree! For more information log onto http://www.downtownspringfield.org/.
