Since the 1890s, the New England town of Ridgefield, Connecticut has played home to five Pulitzer Prize winners, a Nobel Laureate, two presidents of the National Academy of Design, famous Architects, Innovators, Authors, Actors and Musicians. Today, Ridgefield's arts community is still thriving. With the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, The Ridgefield Playhouse, The Prospector Theatre, the Ridgefield Theater Barn, and the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, there are plenty of places to get a culture fix in town. To honor the big roles that the arts and the community play in the personality of the town, each holiday season Ridgefield does something unique to honor both.
The town has hosted The Annual Holiday Stroll and it has been part of Ridgefield's cultural calendar for the last 18 years. The stroll takes place each year in Downtown Ridgefield on the first weekend in December, and attracts folks from the community itself and the surrounding towns to join in the Holiday festivities!
Complete with a beautiful Festival of Lights, musicians, ice sculptures, carolers, and open-door holiday fun from local businesses, the Holiday Stroll helps raise holiday spirits—and, more importantly, the feeling of community—in this picturesque, historical town.
"To us, it's important to live in a town with such community because we're so friend- and family-based that the town becomes an extension of our family," says HooplaHa's Joy Story Web Series star and Ridgefield resident Jared Marinelli. It's not hard to see why the people of Ridgefield love their town so much. We had a great time chatting with a few new Ridgefield residents, amidst the families and friends enjoying photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriages, and more festivities during the Holiday Stroll. We hope this peek into the festive gathering will help you get into the holiday spirit as well!
This HooplaHa original video was produced by Salli Frattini, shot by Johnny Perez, and edited by Matt Binetti. For more inspiring stories, follow us on Facebook and sign up for our Only Good News Newsletter.