The streets of downtown Troy came alive Sunday afternoon with music, art, and the hundreds of people who showed up to celebrate the holidays, 19th-century style, in the 22nd annual Victorian Stroll.
On street corners and just about everywhere in between, a Troy resident could be found disguised in a costume indigenous to the well-known British era. There were fancy ladies, English gentlemen, and Santa Claus, of course. Children and adults alike could be seen ogling the traditional costumes when they weren’t looking at more modern pieces of art on display, such as the pictures that placed in the photography contest, or the ostentatiously dressed models from Albany’s Orlo School of Hair Design.
Businesses took it as an opportunity to showcase their products, and they were greeted with crowds of holiday consumers perusing their goods and gazing through the store windows, despite the harsh Troy weather. The Victorian Stroll focused more on getting people into the holiday spirit, but shopping was still part of the event, a seemingly favored activity of many.
Overall, the Victorian Stroll was fun for all ages. Children could visit Santa as he perched atop an antique fire truck or pet goats, college students could sample the delectable selections on the menu of various food vendors, and adults could enjoy the live holiday music, whether played by a Victorian in the street or students from the local schools. Festivities not only included good food and amazing art; Troy High School and Middle School students unveiled their talent in music through band and choir performances of such holiday favorites as “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Deck the Halls.”
Csaba Vajtai ’08 was one of the students strolling through downtown Troy on Sunday. “It was a nice and historically entertaining event for the community,” Vajtai said. “It helped us all get together and into the holiday spirit.” Also a local resident, Vajtai thought, “Whenever the Victorian Stroll comes around, we always know that Christmas is just around the corner, as is the end of the semester!”
The night proved to be anything but silent, though, as nearly everyone was submerged in an atmosphere full of holiday spirit and cheer. Despite the merriment being scheduled to go only from 1 to 5 pm, the streets didn’t empty until after the clock struck five. Although the choir ceased their holiday tunes, the musical instruments were silenced, the clatter of horses’ hooves on the pavement could be heard no more, and conversations dwindled with the approaching night, there was an appropriate holiday ending to the day’s celebrations after all: the official tree was lit in the City Hall, followed by a colorful fireworks display that could be seen even from RPI’s campus.
Eventually, the streets of downtown Troy emptied, leaving only garlands of lights as a memory of the sparkling day that uncovered the spirit existing in Troy, evident by this annual Victorian Stroll. Both residents and RPI students can be assured no grinch will spoil the holidays.
