If you want to bask in some serious Christmas Quaint, you could go to Disneyland, or, and I would recommend this next option highly, come on up to Nevada City for Victorian Christmas. Folks come up by the busloads (really. We've seen the buses) to stroll up and down the main streets, the buildings of which are all outlined in white lights. The shops are brightly decorated inside, as well, and there are little canopies in the streets, under which people in full Victorian garb sell fancy soaps. Well, they sell other things, as well, like food, hot chocolate, jewelry and candles.
But, it's the, apparently, infinite variety of fancy soaps on the tables that always gets me, at these affairs. Who buys all this soap? Do they teach it in the schools, here? The thing is, the actual shops in the actual buildings are also selling fancy soaps. Nevada County seems to be all about the fancy soap industry, as if we have the international corner on that commodity. In the summer, they hold the exact same street events, without the Victorian clothes, and sell soaps. At the county fair, more soaps. Craft fairs and festivals and growers markets--fancy soaps. Where does it all go? How many cupboards of fancy soap do you keep stocked?
Sorry about the soap thing. I just don't get it. But, aside from that, cuteness oozes in the streets. Little kids singing and playing the violin (badly) but looking so precious (and cold); carolers in, yes, Victorian clothing (which looks so nice and toasty warm in 28 degree weather); harpists; a Salvation Army brass quartet, and a woman who walks around dressed as a Christmas tree (a long-standing tradition, it seems).
We stopped into the Methodist church, where there was a very good male chorus singing, among other old favorites, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". The streets are packed with folks of all ages, munching kettle corn (another staple at these events) and drinking hot chocolate. Hardly ever buying soap.We know that, in the harsh light of reality, it's all about the downtown merchants attracting more shoppers, especially tourists (did I mention the buses?). But we like to go. We went to the summer ones for both towns. We're going to these Christmas events for both towns.
Grass Valley downtown hosts an almost identical "Cornish Christmas" (you could get by with the same costumes, but there's no Christmas Tree Lady). Nevada City is Wednesday nights; Grass Valley is Friday evenings. It's festive and fun. The music is (mostly) good (the S.A.Brass Band needs a bit of work), and everyone is in a great mood. It's chilly and festive and, well, clean...