The clippety-clop of miniature draft horses’ hooves coming down Washington Street, a soundtrack for free carriage rides, commanded nostalgic, Christmas carol-style attention for the third annual A Not So Silent Night in downtown Columbus.
Heather Riegle brought her youngsters along for one of the rides before they hurried off for a children’s scavenger hunt organized by area merchants.
“It was definitely a fun first experience in a carriage,” Riegle said.
In fact, many shoppers and others out of the town during the late afternoon and early evening event Thursday said the event marked a first for them.
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Kathy Speier and friend Nancy Nay loved being able to hit the local stores such as Boutique Elise after normal business hours because of the parking convenience.
“Often, if you come downtown during the day, it’s difficult to find a parking space,” Speier said. “And tonight, the added wine (served at several shops) doesn’t hurt, either.”
Both women laughed.
With so much to notice downtown with an array of special activities, even the misting rain couldn’t distract the crowds.
New downtown art gallery 411 kicked off its newest exhibit, “50/50,” the Bartholomew County Historical Society highlighted its “Christmas Trees Through Time” display, Viewpoint Books featured author signings, and kidscommons children’s museum guided youngsters through construction of gingerbread houses.
About 20 youngsters were scheduled to be at the museum before the evening finished. One of them, Dariel Pinella, 6, liked the idea of eating his completed house, even though he was happily chomping pizza when he proposed the possibility. Plus, before leaving, he acknowledged that he hoped to have a chance to slide down the world’s largest toilet, a popular pastime always in season no matter the time of year.
People seemed to love being outdoors in Columbus on a mid-December Thursday night, said Karen Niverson, executive director of the Columbus Area Visitors Center, which promoted the night organized by the Columbus Downtown Merchants Association.
“We would call it a great success,” Niverson said. “I saw a lot of families walking up and down Washington Street. And I saw so many people in line for the carriage rides.”
With temperatures near 50 degrees when Not So Silent Night began, a number of people strolling downtown mentioned they thought the warmer surroundings made the night relaxing.
Some said they simply liked the idea of getting out and seeing the sights. Along downtown streets, trees were adorned with festive white lights. And lampposts featured lighted snowflakes to nutcrackers.
“It all just sounded interesting,” said Brad Barnes, accompanied by his wife, Pam Barnes.
While browsing at Viewpoint and considering a carriage ride, the couple hoped to eat supper at a nearby restaurant and then stop in some of the shops.
At the visitors center, jewelry maker Susie Sawin and textile artist Suzanne Halvorson displayed and sold their work. Part of the time, they visited with some of a busload of 40 Indianapolis visitors who had planned to leave for home late in the day — until they heard about A Not So Silent Night and stayed to be a part of it.
“This a gathering of the community — a time in which people can wander about and maybe run into a neighbor downtown,” Sawin said. “And maybe have a beverage or a snack together.”
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"I saw a lot of families walking up and down Washington Street. And I saw so many people in line for the carriage rides."
— Karen Niverson, executive director of the Columbus Area Visitors Center
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