Holiday Stroll KO’d by Weather

As most of the residents of New London sat in their homes without lights or heat, the fate of the evening’s annual holiday stroll was sealed. The weather was serving up cold, wind and freezing rain. It was simply too dangerous for all but the stouthearted to venture out.

Chelsea Boecker leads the group who planned and produced this year’s Stroll. It is a labor of love that takes months of planning and several fundraisers to produce this one magical night every year before Christmas for the community to enjoy. This year’s version was to be complete with a Santa parade and dancing elves. But good ol’ Iowa weather had other plans.

Boecker summed up the deciding factors in the cancellation. She posted the committee’s rationale on the Stroll’s Facebook page.

“This was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “For the safety of our vendors, volunteers, local business owners and animals in the petting zoo we have decided to cancel the Holiday Stroll.”

One can only imagine how difficult the decision to cancel was to make, but it was the correct one.

This year marked the 34th annual stroll and this might be the only one ever canceled. It won’t be rescheduled, but there will still be a Santa Meet and Greet along with his jolly wife, Mrs. Claus. On Dec. 22 the Holiday Stroll Committee and the Fire Department will welcome all to come and see Santa. It will be at the New London Fire Station from 12-2 p.m. There will be walking Tacos for $6. There is also free face painting and decorating a cookie. Elf bags and Teddy bears are limited.

Thanks to everyone who worked so long and hard to have the Stroll be a wonderful night to celebrate the joy of Christmas. It would have been a festive evening. It is also a good time to thank the utility department who worked many hours in terrible weather to get the power restored to most of New London.

Hopefully next year the weather will cooperate and the Dover Museum ladies will be once again serving their famous chicken sandwiches!