Christmas in Montrose brings cheer, community delights

12-10-25

By Lauren Royce, Editor
MONTROSE — Montrose turned out in full to celebrate its annual Christmas in Montrose tradition over the weekend, with dozens of activities and opportunities to shop galore. Like a true winter wonderland scene, colorful arches made of balloons and candy props greeted visitors as they arrived. Eliza Theys, owner and operator of Eliza’s Elevated Events, made the elaborate candy-accented balloon arches for The Green. Over a dozen holiday shed facades lined The Green making it look like a storybook North Pole town.

Between horse and carriage rides, bake sales, a 5k and a parade of lights and more, it’s no wonder that it truly takes a village to put together. Dozens upon dozens of events made up the weekend, underscoring a theme of community and charity the whole way through.
“There’s nothing else like it, not nearby anyhow,” said Tom Perkins, who runs Stone Crop Tree Farm with his wife Emily Perkins. “Anything you could imagine or want for your holiday wishes is here someplace.”
“We see a lot of people we don’t normally see,” Emily Perkins said, as many people come home for the holidays back to Montrose, her husband added.
As the sun faded from view, the Christmas lights took on a magical look. Temperatures dipped into the 20s, feeling more like 10 degrees. White snow blanketed The Green and children could be seen romping about with joy as everyone’s breath could be seen hanging in the air. Candle melts, tallow, sourdough bread, it was all there and people walked around with bags and wreaths in hand.

Business was good for Karen Burlingame, owner of Under the Moonlite Alpaca & Garlic Ranch. Her tent was selling various cozy alpaca wool items from hats to ponchos and socks, and some garlic of course. Gloves were a hot item that night. Based in Ulster, Burlingame’s stand has been coming to Christmas in Montrose for about nine years, she said.

“I think it’s the best thing they ever came up with, the huts like this,” said Jeff Snyder, with his wife Carol. The pair were checking out Smokin’ Butcher Coffee Company’s stand, run by Robert Spencer with his nephew Caiden Martin helping out. The brand is based in Wysox. Spencer said he was interested in maybe becoming a part of Blueberry Fest in the future.
At the top of The Green, people could visit two piebald does from Spruce Ridge Reindeer.
“This is my second time doing this up here,” said Damien Dawber, part of the farm’s staff. The pair, Snow and Cece, are mother and daughter. The piebald does get antlers too, but it’s the male piebalds that lose their antlers first, Dawber said. “I love seeing the people’s reactions,” he said. “Believe it or not, the adults sometimes are more excited than the kids, and people don’t always believe that reindeer are real until they actually see them.”

By the time it was all over, the snow had melted away revealing grass and the magic had been bottled back up for next year. To look through the cookie case at Lydia’s Bake Shop, it was clear the event had run its full course. So much so, there are thoughts of needing another oven in the shop to handle the demand of cookies the event brings in.
“We had a line to the door and back from 9 a.m. to 3:30— It was very good business,” said Leah Van Gorden, who worked witnessing the hundreds of customers coming in over the weekend. “We are very grateful to the volunteers.”
At 3 o’clock Sunday, the first Presbyterian Church in Montrose was packed with at least 100 people for its chorale performance capping off the weekend.

After the group sang holiday melodies including “A Joyous Carol of the Bells” and “Like the Falling Snow,” the youth chorale took to the risers to sing “Christmastime.”
“It’s pretty awesome that we have the chance to have these children with us,” said director Tom Welch. “This is a first for us in the entire history of the Montrose chorale.”
A tribute performance of “Christmas Eve in Old Montrose” was also made in memory of Joe Welden by his grandson Christopher Johnson. The church reverberated with voices from the pews mixing with the choir, filling the room with the spirit of “Old Montrose.”

The winners of the Gingerbread house contest were not available before press time on Tuesday. The winners are: 

1st place Adult: Irene & Nami Patton

1st place Teen: Abigail Williams

1st place Kids: Brannagh Patton

2nd place Kids: Emma Olah

3rd place Kids: Naomi Earley Sutton

4th place Kids: Maeve Patton