In many American communities, Santa waits in big malls with long lines. In our village in the country, it’s different.

There is a Christmas parade, and the town celebrates in various ways. Our tiny collection of Main Street businesses has organized a “lights on” program to brighten the area and promote our version of Christmas shopping – so far, the food co-op,  the diner, a Mexican restaurant, and the Battenkill Book store.

There aren’t too many more stories to jump in; the town has definitely taken on the holiday feeling, with light displays everywhere.

It’s lovely and warm, but it is the country.

Santa pops up in different places. Today, Santa was in front of a Christmas shop across from the hardware store and Cumberland Farms. Lots of kids showed up to sit on his lap, and he even had a family elf show up to help him.

The hay bale instead of a ladder was a nice touch.

I couldn’t resist stopping to take this photo, and I declined Santa’s very generous offer to get into his lap and tell him what I wanted for Christmas.