Gallery: Huge Turnout for 20th Annual Winter Holiday Stroll

Conditions for the 20th Annual Winter Holiday Stroll could not have been better – it was cold enough for the ice sculptors not to have to worry about the ice melting, or the Rail Jam competitors fearing the snow melt.

There was no precipitation, no wind – just an abundance of holiday spirit from one end of Main Street to the other, and lots of side streets in between during the annual celebration of community and Christmas.

By early afternoon food trucks were already positioned along Main Street, shop owners were tweaking the outdoor decor and preparing for what is always a busy foot-traffic night. By 5 p.m. the procession was on its way from City Hall. This year the Nashua Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps kicked things off with some Christmas carols by the Hunt Building, as the drum line led the way to the city's 30-foot Christmas tree.

>Watch a video of the tree lighting here.<

>Watch a time-lapse video of the tree, turned Nutcracker ballerina, being cut here.<

Revelers holding long white lit tapers joined in the singing of a few favorite Christmas songs, led by Miss New Hampshire Samantha Russo. Then, everyone dispersed in search of whatever it was they came for – an audience with Santa and Mrs. Claus, street performances, food samples, a sit-down meal, some Christmas cocktails, ice sculpting, or the freestyle ski and snowboard competition. 

Official crowd estimates would be available Monday, said Rebecca Dixon, Executive Director of Great American Downtown, which organizes the annual event.

"We had a wonderful turnout by the community at the 20th Stroll," said Dixon. "We are so thankful to the City of Nashua for their support, and our Stroll sponsors for their partnerships which enable this wonderful event to happen."

A limited number of commemorative ornaments, fashioned from the Main Street trees cut down in 2013 for the sidewalk improvement project, are still available. For more information, call 603-883-5700, or email info@greatamericandowntown.org.

We've uploaded a few dozen photos here. If you have some great shots to share, feel free to email or text them to Carol Robidoux at carol.robidoux@gmail.com or 603-903-4958 (with a caption) and I'll add them to the mix as part of the permanent record!