By Andy RossAs the New Haven Downtown Holiday Winter Wonderland celebration festivities continue through this Thursday December 17th, the downtown streets have come alive with artfully trimmed and colorful decorations expressing the holiday spirit. The scene in the thriving epicenter of New Haven which combines fashion, food, art, and music – guaranteeing that a stroll through town will be delightfully distracting because of the combined sights, sounds and smells.
Activities this year also include horse drawn carriage rides through the chilly and sometimes
blustery streets of New Haven’s downtown area. But helping keep everyone warm is the INFO New Haven information center at the corner of Chapel and College streets, where hot cider is served up along with freshly roasted hot peanuts and popcorn - all free! Deputy Director for Town Green Special Services District Daisy Abreu on right and volunteer Heather Hinckley on left serving up hot treats at Info New Haven.Meanwhile 1,200 candle lit luminaries glow in sweeping rows along the upper Green’s
intersecting pathways, and roaming Christmas Carolers and musicians brave the cold to delight gathering crowds with their musical talents. The 50 member group of the Yale Undergraduate Gospel Choir, for example, fills the air with traditional holiday carols. The array moves from one street corner to the next, delighting hundreds of shoppers, visitors and residents with their songs.
Professional models – both male and female – stand as still as statues in the windows of local retail stores, showcasing the finest collections of winter and holiday apparel and accessories. When they wink or shift positions it causes passersby to do the
double-take and ask themselves “did that mannequin just move?”
intersecting pathways, and roaming Christmas Carolers and musicians brave the cold to delight gathering crowds with their musical talents. The 50 member group of the Yale Undergraduate Gospel Choir, for example, fills the air with traditional holiday carols. The array moves from one street corner to the next, delighting hundreds of shoppers, visitors and residents with their songs.Professional models – both male and female – stand as still as statues in the windows of local retail stores, showcasing the finest collections of winter and holiday apparel and accessories. When they wink or shift positions it causes passersby to do the
double-take and ask themselves “did that mannequin just move?”
While those models stand motionless, the economy seems to be moving right along. A peek inside a dozen or so area restaurants reveals no signs of a slowdown, and although many were filled to capacity the friendly hosts somehow manage to still seat everyone promptly. Combine all of that with the many seasonal specials in restaurants and retail shops, and everything comes together at once to create a fun-filled downtown experience and holiday atmosphere. 
Phil Kline's “Unsilent Night,” a free outdoor sound sculpture of boom box carols, traveling throughout the downtown streets last week.
Also worth noting is that INFO New Haven will be offering consumers a gift bonus with any purchase of $50 or more between Friday, November 27th and Friday, January 15th. Those who shop at one of New Haven’s more than 50 shops and boutiques may bring the receipt to INFO New Haven, located at 1000 Chapel Street, to receive their free gift voucher – including those that can be redeemed for a drink at any area restaurant and others that provide free admission to the luxurious Criterion Cinema on Temple Street.
Jessica Rose, Doug Rosa both of New Haven along with Ian Trotta of Scottsdale AZ are seen here breaking out into a good old fashion snow ball fight on a street corner while their parents took in the sights. Children can get involved in the festivities by decorating their own luminaria bags at the “Light Your Way” station, which is sponsored by Casey Family Services. The luminaria will be lit every Thursday in December from 6-9 p.m. For more information call 203-773-9494.The Town Green District and the Broadway and Chapel Merchants Associations have combined their efforts to create all of these free family-friendly attractions.
More information is available at the website http://www.infonewhaven.com/holidays, where you can download a full calendar of what’s happening in downtown New Haven.
Anonymous Said,
This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holiday in a special way. Come out and enjoy!
Posted on December 14, 2009 8:36 AM