New Canaan families who want a gingerbread house in a downtown window this December need to be at a computer at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17. That is when the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce opens online reservations for the gingerbread house kits that fill about 150 windows across town during the Holiday Stroll, and the chamber says the kits are usually all claimed within an hour.

How the gingerbread houses work

The kits are a gift to the community from the New Canaan office of Brown Harris Stevens. Families who reserve one pick it up at the firm's office, 93 Cherry Street, on Friday, November 20. Each finished house is then delivered to an assigned location, a shop or office window somewhere in town, between November 30 and December 3, in time for the stroll.

The reservations go live on the chamber's website. With 150 kits and a history of going fast, the chamber suggests setting a reminder.

The Holiday Stroll, December 4 and 5

The Holiday Stroll is the chamber's weekend for downtown New Canaan. A group of local merchants started it 22 years ago, and it works as the town's version of Small Business Saturday, a reason to shop locally for the holidays.

On Friday, December 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., downtown is open for walking under the lights, browsing in the stores, food, a show by young local performers, and selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

On Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Santa returns to town for younger children at Houlihan Lawrence, 161 Elm Street. A magician makes balloon animals for the children while they wait in line to share their wish lists.

The lampposts and the lights

Downtown's holiday look is paid for by residents and merchants. More than 75 lampposts are dressed with green garland, white lights and a personalized name tag tied with a red bow, and each one is sponsored. A sponsorship costs $250, keeps the lamppost decorated from Thanksgiving through January, and helps pay for the Holiday Stroll. Businesses may ask for a lamppost near their own storefront. The deadline to sponsor one is Wednesday, November 18.

The town's holiday lights cost more than $35,000 each year, according to the chamber, and are paid for entirely by donations to the New Canaan Chamber Charitable Foundation. The chamber does not receive financial support from the town budget. Donations can be made online or by check to the foundation at PO Box 214, 77 A Main Street, New Canaan.

Dates to know

  • Tuesday, November 17, 10 a.m.: gingerbread house kit reservations open on the chamber's website.
  • Wednesday, November 18: deadline to sponsor a holiday lamppost ($250).
  • Friday, November 20: kit pickup at Brown Harris Stevens, 93 Cherry Street.
  • November 30 to December 3: finished gingerbread houses delivered to their windows.
  • Friday, December 4, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Holiday Stroll downtown.
  • Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Santa at Houlihan Lawrence, 161 Elm Street.

Downtown New Canaan is at the end of Metro-North's New Canaan Branch. The chamber can be reached at 203-966-2004 or info@newcanaanchamber.com.

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