Niwot Holiday charm - COVID style

Niwot has long been a destination for old fashioned Christmas charm, with traditional events such as Enchanted Evening, the Holiday Parade, and WINC Holiday Fayre, which provide a festive ambience and attract families from both close to home and towns all around. What's more magical than seeing children's faces light up at the iconic Santa on the fire truck, or people marveling at the ice sculptures, or the comfort and joy of hearing carols sung beautifully, or sipping a fabulous holiday concoction? For many in town, providing that holiday magic is truly a joy.

With the resurgence in COVID-19 cases throughout the area and new public health orders in place, the holiday magicians in the Niwot Business Association (NBA) had to come up with some creative thinking and problem solving. A four-member team including Linda Klueber, who organizes Enchanted Evening and the Holiday Parade each year, Deborah Read Fowler, who organizes the annual WINC Holiday Fayre, Kristin Alger, a Niwot resident who volunteered to help coordinate holiday events this year, and Carissa Sawle, owner of the Niwot Inn, have worked out a fabulous way of providing the holiday magic in Niwot for the holidays, while staying safe and complying with Boulder County's new Red-level restrictions.

"This is super exciting," Fowler said. "We are going to really energize the downtown with lots of holiday magic for all ages, in businesses and outside- something for everyone. We are ready to have some fun and make this holiday extra special after this tough year. We want people to wrap up warm, come downtown, walk around, socially distance, wear a mask and enjoy."

Holiday festivities will still kick off on Friday, Nov. 27, with ice sculptures, carolers, entertainers, musicians, and extended shopping hours for most stores. Santa will also be making an appearance, but he will be conducting business outdoors instead of in the Left Hand Grange. Unfortunately, the annual tree lighting and parade have been canceled, to discourage congregating and large gatherings.

The festivities will continue throughout the following two weekends (Dec. 5 & Dec. 12), with the Niwot Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The WINC Holiday Fayre has also been adapted to maintain compliance with Boulder County COVID regulations. Instead of having vendors in the Left Hand Grange, each vendor will pop up in an assigned location throughout 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square stores on both Saturdays, which shoppers will be able to find on a map. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be making a return appearance on these dates.

Rest assured, there will be plenty of places to purchase your holiday gifts, enjoy some merry music and eat and drink some festive culinary treats. Organizers are also planning live music, including appearances by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, carollers, nutcracker stops, and kids' activities. Be prepared to enjoy treats such as hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and gingerbread, and the list continues to grow.

Funds for Niwot Holiday Magic, the socially distanced old-fashioned holiday celebration, have been kindly provided by the Niwot Local Improvement District and the Niwot Business Association. Visit Niwot.com for more information, including a holiday shopping map showing the location of each vendor and the times for Santa visits and other outdoor activities. A hard copy describing the festivities was mailed to Niwot homes last week.

The holiday garland and lights were lit on Nov. 22. so the town is ready to host the festivities! The Niwot Holiday charm will be well and truly alive.