On the day after Thanksgiving 2005, I joined what seemed like most of Littleton at the annual Candlelight Walk. By the time I made it to Main Street, it was dark and chilly, which only added to the atmosphere. I strolled down the south side of the street first, stopping to enjoy Christmas carols rendered by several musical ensembles dressed in Victorian costumes (well, some of them were).

Most of the retailers were still open and were serving cider and cookies. I ate and drank my way down the street. Everyone was in a jolly mood, and I could feel the anticipation grow for Santa’s arrival.

I talked to several thirty-something parents who said they had been attending the Candlelight Walk since they were children. I also saw lots of older couples, some dressed in period costumes, who were enjoying themselves as much as the kids. Obviously, I was taking part in a Littleton Tradition, with a capital “T.”

Everyone was in a jolly mood, and I could feel the anticipation grow for Santa’s arrival.

Town Hall was blazing with lights and bustling with people. I maneuvered my way to where I could buy a candle, complete with wax catcher, for 50 cents.

Once back out on the street, I saw many people had brought their own candles. They had tapers with Dixie cups cut to fit on the candle to catch the wax. I decided I would bring my own next year, and I would find a way to make some kind of hurricane lamp to protect my flame from the breeze that kept trying to snuff it out. (I noticed a couple of children with clear plastic cups on their candles to prevent this, but the flame was melting the cup.
On my way back up the north side of the street, I stopped several times to listen to the various caroling groups. I found myself singing along, as were many in the crowd. I felt a camaraderie with everyone there.

Anticipation for Santa’s visit became an almost audible buzz as the clock wound it’s way to six-thirty. The streets got more and more crowded as parents, many with toddlers on their shoulders, jockeyed to get their children in a good spot to see Santa as he passed.

I lit my candle, feeling my own excitement rising. I really had no idea what to expect. Then a collective “Ohhh” floated on the cold air. By this time, I was on the corner of Curtice and Main Street. I looked east and had to jump up to see over the shoulders of the people around me (okay, so I’m on the short side). Finally, I noticed that all of the trees were lit up on the first block. Santa was on his way!

As Santa passed Prince Street, all the tree lights came on for the next block. It was quite a sight. I smiled when a small boy, sitting on his father’s shoulders, clapped and laughed out loud.

I didn’t get a glimpse of Santa until he crossed Nevada and all the lights on that block lit up. He and his sleigh full of gifts were perched on top of a white pick-up truck. He waved and Ho Ho Ho-ed his way down the street. I wasn’t near him by the time he got to the end of Main Street, but I would like to think that he exclaimed as he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

The excitement of the children around me (not to mention many of their parents), the quiet joy of the older couples, and the spectacle of the lights coming on an entire block at a time made my first Candlelight Walk a magical night.

Best of all, I didn’t run into even one Grinch!

23rd Annual
Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting

November 24, 2006
Historic Downtown Littleton
Main Street will be closed to traffic shortly after 5 p.m. and Santa will begin his march down Main Street starting at the Courthouse at 6:30 p.m.
Santa will be followed by thousands of carolers holding candles and flashlights.

Free Hot Cider and Music
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
At Town Hall Arts Center, Bega Park, or Bradford Auto Body candles will be available for 50 cents.
Donations of non-perishable food for Interfaith Community Services will be accepted, as will toys for the Arapahoe Santa Claus Shop.
Entertainment provided at various Main Street locations while we wait for Santa to arrive. Many downtown merchants will be hosting open houses.

Photo with Santa
Bring your camera for a photo with Santa at Town Hall Arts Center or Santa’s reindeer at 2659 West Main Street. The reindeer appearance is generously sponsored by Bradford Auto Body, Inc. and Western Welcome Week.
The event culminates at the west end of Main Street where Santa will throw the switch on the huge live trees.

Free parking is available at Arapahoe Community College.

For more information, call 303-795-3863.

For my third adventure, in October 2005, I cranked my curiosity quotient into high gear and did something I would never have considered before—I went to the Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion. As I stood in line, I had plenty of time to ponder the fact that all the people around me were there because they wanted to be scared. Frankly, I didn’t see the allure, but allowed myself to catch their excitement.

For our pre-fright entertainment, the Reinke Brothers dished up a very large mechanical monster which roared and thrashed its head and arms at timed intervals. There was also a grim reaper who had traded in his scythe for a microphone and was crooning altered versions of Elvis classics.

I was already on edge as I entered the Haunted Mansion because of not knowing what was coming. I guess this is half the fun. Until my eyes adjusted, I bumped my way along the walls in the dark. I passed through several rooms separated by doorways consisting of strips of something that felt like rubber. Each room was a different scenario—ghosts floating overhead, mummies springing out of coffins, ghouls groaning, skeletons leering, and bats whooshing.
As I wound my way through the maze, I began to feel a little more comfortable. It reminded me of the haunted house at Disneyland. Interesting, but not really scary.

So I was totally unprepared for the real person—in a black cape with his face painted white—who suddenly appeared from behind a curtain. He leaned over from above my head, talking about fresh blood. I jumped so high, I was almost level with him, and I’m sure my face was almost as white.

From then on, I think I screamed at everything because I was no longer sure if it was mechanical or real. I was certain something was going to grab me.
I don’t remember much after that. My intent was just to get to the end of it. I did enjoy some of the special effects; for instance, the crumbling marble pillars, which were just like I’d seen in movies. The rope bridge that I had to cross while all my senses were being attacked by psychedelic lights was also memorable.

“I was no longer sure
if it was mechanical or real. I was certain something was
going to grab me.”

Once I finally reached the end, I heaved a sigh of relief. I had to admit that it had been exhilarating to scream at the top of my lungs, but there was no way I was going to go through it all over again, even though I was given the opportunity to do so at about a quarter of the original price.

I was ready for some quiet fun. And I found it at the Victorian Halloween at the Littleton Historical Museum. This took place outside at the 1890s Farm. The night was cool, with thunder in the distance. I sat on plank bench around a bonfire, fortifying myself with some of the best hot apple cider I’d ever tasted and some doughnut holes, and listened to people telling stories.

When I was ready to move on, I watched kids bobbing for apples in the Blacksmith Shop. I checked out the pumpkin carving contest going on in the cow barn, and really enjoyed seeing all the children in their Halloween costumes.

I wandered over to the 1890s House, where I had my fortune told by a “walnut boat.” The boats were half of a walnut shell with a candle—looked like a birthday cake candle—stuck in the middle. They were floating in a bowl of water, and your fortune was told by what your boat did when the water was agitated by someone running their fingers in the water.

My boat tended to stay near the side of the bowl, although every once in a while it moved toward the middle. I was told this meant that in the future I would take a few risks, but generally prefer safety. Given the night I’d had, I figured my fortune was right on.

Review
Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion 2006

I can’t believe I did this again (I was so scared the first time), but I went to the preview of the 2006 Reinke Haunted Mansion. I couldn’t help myself; I wanted to see if it was different. It was. I only recognized two things from the year before–but maybe that was because I was so scared.

Also, they spaced the groups of people out more so that I was all by myself (although a couple of kids ran past me at one point). This upped the fear significantly. And it was darker than last time. I had to feel for the walls with my fingers at many points.

Once I got stuck in a dead end. I kept patting the walls to make sure they wouldn’t move. While my mind was screaming, “Get me out of here!” a person dressed in black with Freddy Krueger-type blades on his hands appeared in the doorway. My heart was pounding so fast I was afraid I’d faint. I think he knew how frightened I was for he just pointed me back to the correct corridor.

But the scariest part was…
Well, I don’t want to ruin it for you. 

To get your scare on…
Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion
5663 South Prince Street • Littleton, Colorado 80120
(303) 795-5006 • www.reinkebrothers.com