THUNDER BAY -- A sleigh ride on a mild December afternoon with light snowflakes falling is an image straight out of a storybook.
But that’s just what happened on some city streets Saturday afternoon.
Shana Nelson and Dwayne Vanlenthe teamed up with the Waterfront Business Improvement Area to offer free horse carriage rides through the north downtown core.
Saturday marked the third time this month the rides were offered, with at least 500 people participating.
The reactions from people seeing the draft horses and carriage down city streets was well worth the work.
“The kids are ecstatic. I’ve never seen smiles that big,” Nelson said. “They are such big horses that people are wowed. We’ve had people stop in the middle of the street while they’re driving to take pictures.”
Donnalee Morettin, Waterfront BIA coordinator, said sleigh rides have been offered every year since 2010.
It’s a great way to take a couple of minutes to slow down and appreciate the holiday season.
“We’ve been a hustle and bustle city but when you hear the clonking of the hooves and the jingle bells you know it’s Christmas time,” Morettin said. “It’s the spirit.”
Getting people in the downtown area is a bonus, she added.
“We are excited because we try really hard to bring people down to remember there are local shops that have everything you could ever want for Christmas presents,” Morettin said.
“When we see 500 more people coming down to take part that means families are together and they’re enjoying Christmas.”
