News
Twenty-Ninth Annual Christmas Stroll Held Friday
The 29th Annual Sheridan Chamber of Commerce Christmas Stroll in Sheridan was held on November 29, “Black Friday,” from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The theme this year is ‘Cowboy Christmas Stroll’
Starting in 2020, the Stroll has been held all day, instead of just in the evening. This gives shoppers more time to get out and shop in local businesses, look for their ‘Stroll Button’ number posted in the back of the store to win a prize from the merchant.
Jodi Hartley, Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing and Communications, talked about the stroll. She said it is a wonderful family tradition and a way of kicking off the Holiday Season. She urged everyone to come out for the stroll.
She said she felt that the shoppers increased every year, and weather played a role in that. The nicer the weather the more people come out for the event, she said and added, “Its perfect weather for the stroll this year,” Hartley added.
She explained how Sheridan’s Christmas Stroll started.
Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand at the WYO Theater to talk to the youngsters during the stroll. They were there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Santa added that they would take a break, and then return at 4:30 p.m., riding on the Sheridan Fire Department Fire Truck. “We won’t quit until the kids quit,” he said.
Two of the youngsters visiting Santa were Ella and Lucas Mack, and their mother, Megan. Ella had her American Girl doll, Lila, with her.
Lucas agreed not to hit his sister with a sword unless she wanted to play the game with him.
The theme for the stroll was ‘Cowboy Christmas’ and one display in the window of the Bozeman Trail Art Gallery portrayed the theme very well. It was an old west town, complete with cowboys and Indians. Hanna Ehrmantraut, of the Bozeman Trail Gallery, talked about the display.
She and her daughter, Merritt, were working in the Gallery during the stroll, and Merritt said it was slow for a while and then it got really busy. Hanna said they had a lot of walk-in traffic, and she liked the all-day stroll, and felt it gave people more of an opportunity to go in each store.
The Museum at the Bighorns, which will moved to the old Woolworth’s building on Main Street next year, had a booth at the Christmas stroll as well, and on display was an artist’s rendering of what the new museum space will look like. Thane Magelky, President of the Museum board of directors was on hand to talk to strollers about the museum.
He said the new space was about the same size as the existing one, but the space was more open and more flexible. He said they are working with an exhibit designer to help to develop the story that the exhibits will tell. “We are updating our displays and our exhibits. It will tell some of the same stories but perhaps a little bit differently and some will be brand new.” He added that they plan to start up the History Happy Hour events as well.
The warm weather brought out many shoppers, and in the past the stroll has attracted around 3000 shoppers to Sheridan’s Historic Main Street to stroll and “Get Caught Shopping” at the businesses there.
During the evening there were hayrides, marshmallow roasting, as well as hot cocoa, cider, coffee and soup with the grand finale fireworks culminating the event.
