Matthew Burnette, Staff Writer

Manchester’s Historic Downtown Square was a-glow with festive decorations and activities for the whole family as the city celebrated its fourth annual Christmas Stroll.

Chamber of Commerce Director of Member Engagement Anna Singleton noted that there was a lot to be excited about for this year’s event.

“I was most looking forward to the carriage rides and all of the strolling characters,” she said. “This year we have the carolers who are going to be around, so I was most excited about that and getting to go into all of these shops with my family.”

Singleton emphasized that she was in awe when she first stepped foot onto the Square for the Christmas Stroll, especially when she saw the Huff and Puff Polar Express that was making a return visit.

“The choo choo is here and it’s blowing snow, and they’re punching out tickets for the Polar Express, and I’m just so excited for my little girl to see it,” she enthused. “It’s magical.”

The event, as Singleton explained, is great for bringing the community to the Square and the various businesses there but also because it gives exposure to some of the newer businesses.

One of those new businesses is The Attic on the Square, an antique and craft store that just opened two weeks prior to the Christmas Stroll.

Kristine Abshire, who operates the Attic with her husband and daughter Kaylee, said the store stemmed from her and her husband’s passion for antiquing.

She explained that they mostly have craft vendors right now but hopes to add more antiques soon. The family is originally from Bell Buckle, so this was their first Christmas Stroll.

Abshire says it is a great way to connect with people.

“The community coming together,” she started on what is important about the Stroll. “I think people realizing that we’re here and getting feedback from the community and seeing how everybody likes it is great.”

“We have something for everybody from homemade jams, jellies, syrups, sourdough bread all the way to antiques, crafts, things for kids and things for husbands even though pretty soon we’re going to have a bench out front that says ‘Drop your husband off here,’” she added with a laugh.

The store also has new and antique jewelry, and a “Blind Date with a Book” station where customers can choose books and have them wrapped to gift to people.

Kaylee, who says the family are big fans of the Christmas season, explained that she enjoys having a business with her family and meeting new people.

“I just enjoy being able to talk to people and get to meet everybody in our community, and also being my own boss is real nice,” she said “We just found out about this event last week, so we put together a raffle and raffle tickets and each of our vendors are giving something away just to get the word out there.”

Another first-timer at the Christmas Stroll was the Manchester First Church of the Nazarene Live Nativity and Prayer Tent.

Worship Leader Andrew Newman said that they answered a call from Allison Jarell with High Cotton Vintage for a church to set up next to her business. He said he was inspired to do so after a trip around the Square with his youngest son.

“We did a circle around to look at all the lights, and we got around to the last side, and he said, “But Dad, where’s Jesus? Where’s the Nativity? And I was like ‘Well, we’re going to fix that.’”

Newman said that the Christmas Stroll was a great opportunity to talk to and with pray people and meet them where they are instead of trying to get them into the church.

“It’s intimidating to come into a church sometimes,” he explained. “Just coming in can be nerve wracking to some people, so we come out here and meet them where they’re at and try to share everything we can about the Lord and Jesus and just do what we can to spread the Good News.”

There were also some familiar faces open on the Square this year.

Maggie Martin, the owner of Maggie’s Jewelers with her husband and a veteran of the Christmas Stroll, also emphasized the importance of connecting with the public during the event.

“Just meeting everybody and seeing old friends that we made through the years and seeing new faces is nice,” she explained. “We get to meet so many new people in the community and also, of course, we love the Christmas lights and the decorations and everything. It’s really fun.”

Maggie noted that Christmas time is their busiest time of the year, and the Christmas Stroll brings people in and the community together. She also said that she enjoys the aesthetic of the Downtown area.

“The sidewalk is so nice to walk on and it looks good,” said Martin. “There’s good parking and there’s other businesses like boutiques and other small businesses that are all around us.”

She also explained that the businesses around the Square have also developed their own little community as well over time.

“We get to know each other and we’re a little community of people and you just make friends which is nice because we live here too, so it’s nice to work in your town and bring something to your town that helps people.”

Another member of that community is Amy Graham who runs Ivy’s Tiny Dance Store around the corner from Maggie’s Jewelers.

“I love all of the store neighbors, and they’ve helped me out when I was going through a hard time,” she said. “They’ve all stepped up and if I couldn’t get to the store, they would run over here to help a customer or do whatever they could to help me out.”

“They’re so supportive and caring, and I just love that,” she added.

Graham said she enjoys participating in the Christmas Stroll for the holiday spirit of the event.

“All of the customers come in and they’re happy and excited and looking forward to the holidays.”