Main Street was packed Saturday night, Dec 1, 2012, for Christmas in Davidson. Town officials estimate the three-day total for the crowd at 25,000. (Amy Ellis/DavidsonNews.net)

To the Editor:

Fifteen years ago my husband and I pushed a stroller down Main Street in Davidson while carolers, looking as if they just stepped out of a Charles Dickens novel, strolled and sang. Hot chocolate and hot dogs were for sale outside The Soda Shop while artificial snow blew from the upstairs window. A single horse drawn carriage trotted down the street while bell jingled around the horses’ necks. A school brass band played in Summit Coffee parking lot. It was Christmas in Davidson, and the charm was unmistakable. You could stop and chat with your friends and neighbors, because you knew most everyone there. Even though the night was cool, you felt warm and cozy. It was if the charming town of Davidson was wrapping you up in a great big hug. Read the full story

Main Street was packed Saturday night. Town officials estimate the three-day total for the crowd at 25,000. (Amy Ellis/DavidsonNews.net)

An estimated 25,000 people flooded Main Street over the three nights of Christmas in Davidson last week, according to town officials. The Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 festival brought folks from around the Lake Norman area, Charlotte and beyond for shopping, dining, performing and all around holiday cheer.

This year’s festival picked seasonally-dressed pets in the Doggie Fashion Show and the ugliest sweater in town (see below). Read the full story

Many of our canine residents brought their owners out this past weekend for Christmas in Davidson, while some other local creatures were stars in Saturday’s 30th annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade.  The action included Friday night’s Doggie Fashion Show on the Davidson Village Green. See a photo gallery today on PETS & ANIMALS»

Also today on Pets & Animals:

• “Photo of the Day: A fellow greenway traveler.” – A local runner encountered a slithering obstacle on a local greenway Monday. So he photographed it.
• Cornelius Animal Shelter Pets of the Week – How about adopting a kitty or a doggie for the holidays?

“A Fish Out of Water” enjoyed the Christmas Parade!

December certainly got off to a wonderful start with Christmas in Davidson festivities and the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade. Congratulations to Georgia Krueger who was named Parade Grand Marshal. Perfect weather for all the activities complimented by an almost full moon peeking through the trees at night.

Around Davidson is playing catch-up with a few leftovers from Christmas in Davidson today from the Doggie Fashion Show to dog interviews, visiting Virginians to Stay Puft s’mores. There are also a few notes from the Burney Awards presented this past Sunday. Read the full story

Santa posed on Engine No. 2 just before the festival’s start Thursday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Santa Claus climbed onto the old Davidson Engine No. 2, the siren sounded, and Thursday just before 6pm they headed to the Village Green to kick off the 25th annual Christmas in Davidson. Thousands of people from Davidson, surrounding towns, Charlotte and beyond strolled along Main and South Main streets taking in the sights and sounds of the season.

More photos by DavidsonNews.net’s Brenda Barger and David Boraks below. Read the full story

Rotary trees were decorated and awaiting votes on the Village Green Thursday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

For a second year, visitors Christmas in Davidson will have an important role to play in a fundraiser organized by Davidson Rotary Club: We’re being asked to pick our favorites from among more than a dozen trees decorated by local businesses and organizations. The trees are decorated and waiting on the north side of the Village Green, and votes will be taken nightly during the downtown holiday festival Thursday to Saturday. Read the full story

Thousands packed Main Street during the 2011 Christmas in Davidson. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Christmas in Davidson started out 25 years ago as an extra night of shopping at Main Street businesses, but it’s always been something much more for local merchants and residents.

Even that first year, despite its origins as a shopping promotion, there was a sense of community, recalls Elaine McArn, owner of the Needlecraft Center on North Main Street. “It was low-key, but even then it had a really good feel to it,” she said. Read the full story

The 25th anniversary edition of Christmas in Davidson is scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 1 along Main and South Main streets and the Village Green, with carriage rides, food, music and a South Main Square skating rink. Registration is open for two events within the three-day festival: the annual Doggie Fashion Show and the Ugly Sweater Contest. Find out more in THE GUIDE»