Walking in a Winter Wander-Land: Downtown Stratford’s unofficial kickoff to the holidays returns

The Holiday Train was filled with families taking a ride around Stratford City Hall and Market Square on the first day of Winter Wander-Land.

The streets of Downtown Stratford were bustling once again with lots of holiday merriment last weekend.

The Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area (BIA) held their annual Winter Wander-Land on Nov. 29 and 30 with lots of activities like the Polar Express train rides, horse-drawn carriages, and roasting rice cereal treats over bonfires. DJ Ethan Maac played lots of upbeat tunes at Market Square as families were exploring the area and kids lined up to meet Santa Claus.

"The kids are loving Santa and everybody's having a good time,” said Jamie Pritchard, general manager of the BIA.

In addition to the Winter Wander-Land programming, holiday shoppers headed to the downtown core and packed the shops.

Pritchard said the annual Winter Wander-Land is a chance for downtown Stratford to give back to its residents.

"It gives something back to the people of Stratford because where can you go to something like this that's free? It doesn't cost you to go and see Santa or to go on a train ride or go on a horse ride,” he said. “We put it on, the BIA and all the downtown merchants and the great sponsors that work with us, so we can offer something back to the city. The businesses really get behind it because they all want to give something back too, and it does bring people into their stores.”

New to Winter Wander-Land was an evening on York Street with live music from Retro Resonance, drinks and food on Nov. 29.

“It was a great event, well attended, great music from Retro Resonance and cold brews from End Times Bar and Beer Shop with great food from the Boathouse everyone found what they needed,” Pritchard said to the Times in a follow-up interview. “A crackling fire and propane heaters kept the people comfy and cozy in the Muskoka chairs and picnic tables.”

Anyone with a filled Winter Wander-Land passport of eight stickers can still drop it off at 47 Downie St. until Dec. 23 for a chance to win either $100, $150 or $200 in Downtown Dollars.