Downtown Shops Come Alive

Local Christmas festival boosts downtown business and spreads Christmas cheer

COLUMBIA - Kat Walters stood in the front window of Artlandish Gallery holding a slip of paper. “What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?” the note asked a crowd of outside onlookers. After a moment, Walters pulled out the answer: “A rebel without a Claus.”

Walters, dressed as a Christmas angel, was one of many downtown Columbia employees performing in shop windows on the evening of Friday, Dec. 1 to celebrate the Living Windows Festival.

Each December, the District invites citizens and visitors of Columbia to kickoff the holiday season with the festival. Hosting a wide variety of Christmas-themed events, the celebration serves as an opportunity for people of all ages, ranging from families to college students, to go downtown and experience the “living windows.”

Characters dressed in costumes occupied shop windows, displaying jokes and phrases such as Walters’, skits and dancing. Living windows-themed celebrations are a holiday tradition that take place in many small business shopping areas nationwide.

“My favorite part of the festival is definitely the living windows,” Columbia resident Sue Slay said. “I’m excited to look around and read all the phrases.”

Along with the living windows, visitors were able to experience a nativity scene, the lighting of the big Christmas tree and snowflakes on Broadway. Children were also able to have their annual visit with Santa.

Downtown businesses spend up to two weeks preparing and decorating for the festival. In order to make the event a success, stores need to plan out how they’re going to execute their windows and attract customers. The event provides an opportunity for participating shops to make holiday sales.

Thirty-nine shops took part this year. Merchants went to great lengths to outdo their windows from last year and top the displays of neighboring shops. Some businesses focused on telling a holiday-themed story, while others, such as Iron Tiger Tattoo Shop, used their window displays to donate to charity.

Co-owner Lee Garcia sat in the window of his shop holding a display of tattoos up to the glass, accompanied by a note urging festival-goers to vote for which one he should get. One vote cost five dollars.

“All proceeds will be donated to Woodhaven, an organization supporting adults with developmental disorders,” co-owner Gabe Garcia said. “Lee’s going to get the design with the most votes.”

The festival goes beyond just downtown businesses. Musical talents of all ages head to the District to perform for festival-goers. Some of the acts are planned in advance, while others see the event as the perfect opportunity to showcase their talent and make tips. This year PACE Youth Theatre put on a rehearsed performance outside of their venue, but Keith Fletcher, a Columbia blues artist, decided to head out on his own.

“I’m Mr. Fletcher’s one-man blues band and I’m just gonna get out here and play a little bit of music for you,” Fletcher said. “I just love the North Village Arts District.”

Fletcher played outside Artlandish Gallery, which was also hosting their First Friday event in conjunction with their Living Windows display. Free wine, cookies and other snacks were served in the gallery, while local band Austin Jones and the Bootheel Boys played downstairs in Fretboard Coffee.

Along with the Bootheel Boys and Fletcher, individuals playing the accordion or the electric flute, for example, set up camp on the Broadway street corners.

Whether you’re in need of some Christmas cheer or just want to have a fun night in Columbia, the Living Windows Festival has something for everybody. This past Friday it brought the District to life, setting the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

After all, there’s nothing better than a little Christmas spirit.