Merry Christmas (1840s style)

24 Dec

For this Christmas Day 2025, I offer a reminder of what Christmas was like — or rather, NOT like — in the 1840s, courtesy of the Webster Museum. I pulled this piece directly from the Museum’s most recent Penny Farthing newsletter, just one of many fascinating historical nuggets included in this month’s edition. (More info at the end of the blog about how you can sign up for this informative publication.)

The article made a very interesting comparison between what the Christmas season was like back in the mild-19th century and what it’s like now. Specifically, here’s a list of things that are completely normal today, but would have been utterly impossible, unimaginable, or simply didn’t exist in an 1840s Christmas:

Decorations and the tree itself

  • Electric Christmas lights / fairy lights (first strung in 1882, not common in homes until 1900s–1920s)
  • Artificial Christmas trees (widespread only after 1930s plastic, 1960s aluminum, 1990s+ PVC)
  • Tinsel (invented 1870s in Germany, not common until 20th century)
  • Tree ornaments made of blown glass (mass-produced only from 1860s–1870s onward)
  • LED projector lights, inflatable lawn Santas, laser light shows
  • Putting up outdoor Christmas lights in November and leaving them until February

Gifts and wrapping

  • Wrapping paper with Santa/print designs (mass-produced only from ~1910s)
  • Stick-on gift tags, Scotch tape (1930), gift bags
  • Any toy with batteries, screens, or plastic, or electronics
  • LEGO, Barbie, video games, drones, smartphones, AirPods, etc.
  • Gift cards, Amazon vouchers

Santa Claus as we know him

  • Red suit with white fur trim (solidified by Coca-Cola ads 1931; before that he wore green, brown, blue, or bishop’s robes)
  • “Santa lives at the North Pole” (only fixed in the 1860s–1880s)
  • Flying reindeer named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer… (named in 1823 poem, but not universal until much later)
  • Leaving cookies and milk for Santa (an American 1930s tradition)

Food and drink

  • Candy canes (peppermint striped hook shape only from ~1880s–1900s)
  • Chocolate in Christmas stockings (milk chocolate bars only after 1875)
  • Cranberry sauce in a can with ridges
  • “Advent calendar” with chocolate (invented 1958)

Cards and greetings

  • Commercial Christmas cards (first one printed 1843 in London, By 1849 still a novelty.)
  • “Merry Christmas” was only just starting to replace “Happy Christmas” in the 1840s.

Media, music and entertainment

  • Jingle Bells (1857)
  • Silent Night in English (widespread only after 1860s)
  • White Christmas, All I Want for Christmas is You, Last Christmas, etc.
  • Any Christmas song played on radio, Spotify, or shop speakers 24/7
  • Watching It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Home Alone, Die Hard, or The Grinch on TV
  • Hallmark Christmas movies

A typical Christmas Day in the 1840s consisted of:

  • Church in the morning
  • A slightly-better-than-usual dinner (goose or beef instead of salt pork, maybe a small plum pudding if you could afford suet and raisins)
  • Parlor games, a new pair of socks or a handkerchief as the big present
  • Perhaps a single candle in the window

If you’d like to read more interesting historical tidbits like this, sign up to get the Penny Farthing delivered to your mailbox every few months. Each issue is packed with historical photos and stories, event notices, and information about the museum. If you’d like to be added to the distribution list, email WebsterMuseum@gmail.com.

Happy Christmas everyone. I hope you’re surrounded by friends and loved ones this holiday season and enjoy your own old-fashioned or newfangled traditions.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/24/2025)

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New Webster Public Library decorations celebrate winter

23 Dec

A few days ago I wrote about some pretty terrific outdoor holiday decorations you can check out this season, but today I want to highlight an indoor display which you don’t want to miss. It’s at the Webster Public Library, and while this display doesn’t feature any Christmas lights, it’s delightful and beautiful in so many other ways.

For the next several weeks, library patrons will be immersed in a winter wonderland as they attend programs and browse the bookshelves. Fanciful winter-themed decorations are sprinkled throughout the space, including huge cups of hot cocoa brimming with marshmallows and whipped cream, a forest of snow-covered pine trees, monstrous paper snowballs threatening to drop on you from the ceiling typewriters with earmuffs (these made me LOL) paper chains, stars, snowflakes and more. But the star of the show has to be the whimsical gondola lift which stretches from a sparkling mountain range on the far wall across the circulation desk area, its cars transporting a variety of stuffed animals which peek from their windows.

The imaginative pieces were created by Linda Liddle, Circulation & Technical Services Supervisor, and Library Clerk Katrina Viza. They started planning their display back in October and worked bit by bit in the ensuing weeks to craft the different elements, trying to incorporate recycled materials as often as possible. Some of the hot chocolate cups, for example, are made from big flower pots found a long the side of the road. The cup handles are fashioned from pool noodles, and the typewriter ear muffs are made from dusters.

The artists chose a wintry landscape rather than a holiday theme, allowing everyone to enjoy the work while harmonizing with the coming Winter Olympics.

The library is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but will be open again at 10 a.m. this Friday, and the display will be up through the Olympics. So there’s still plenty of time to check it out.

And don’t forget …

…When you head to the library, bring some new or hand-made winter items — gloves, hats or scarves — to put under the library’s Mitten Tree. All donations will be delivered to Webster Hope at the end of the year to share with our Webster neighbors in need.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd. at the rear of Webster Plaza.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/23/2025)

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Webelos Scouts visit Bella’s Bumbas to learn about disabilities

22 Dec

Two young Webelos Scouts recently got some first-hand experience understanding children with disabilities when they visited the Bella’s Bumbas workshop to see the organization’s operation.

Bella’s Bumbas is a non-profit grassroots organization run by Webster residents Marty Parzynski and Rebecca Orr, dedicated to building miniature wheelchairs for children with a wide variety of mobility issues.

John Wood and Declan Walluk, both fourth graders from Pack 250 in Penfield, began their visit by chatting with 5-year old Lyla Deane, who has spina bifida. Lyla, a kindergartner at East Palmyra Christian School, is in a more normal-sized wheelchair now but got her first of two Bella’s Bumba wheelchairs when she was just 18 months old.

With help from Den Leader Sarah Walluk, who prompted the Scouts and asked several of her own questions, the boys learned why Lyla is in a wheelchair and what spina bifida is (“when you have stuff pop out of your body,” Lyla explained, “and you have to get an x-ray and you have to get a shot and you have to get a wheelchair”). They learned how she wheels herself around and about the accommodations she gets at school, like using an elevator and having physical therapy sessions.

But they also learned that, just like other kids, Lyla takes a bus to school, enjoys music class, likes to play outside and climb on the “spidey-thing” (which, she assured us, does NOT attract spiders), and her favorite part of school is recess. And when Sarah asked Lyla if there’s anything she thinks is really hard to do because she has spina bifida and has to be in a wheelchair, her answer was immediate: “No.”

After their conversation, the boys worked with Marty to build a Bumba wheelchair.

Marty Parzynski shows Declan Walluk how to build a Bumba
Lyla with Declan and the Bella’s Bumba Declan built.

The visit was part of the Scouts’ effort to earn their Aware and Care Scouting Adventure badge, which has four requirements:

  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of a being visually impaired.
  • Do an activity that shows the challenges of being hearing impaired.
  • Explore barriers to access.
  • Meet someone who has a disability or someone who works with people with disabilities about what obstacles they must overcome and how they do it.

Den Leader Walluk said that, in addition to fulfilling one of the badge’s requirements, she hoped the visit would “inspire them to see how one person can start small and make a big difference.”

But perhaps the most important lesson learned was this: even though a kid might have a disability, kids are still kids. They like to play and sing and have friends — and recess is their favorite part of school.

An update on the new Bella’s Bumbas garage

Last spring, Marty and Rebecca realized they needed to do SOMETHING. They were rapidly running out of storage and workshop space. So they held a fundraising effort to raise money to replace their small and dilapidated garage with a 22′ by 30′ garage, complete with a concrete floor, shelving, and lots of room to expand. Their goal was to raise $60,000.

By the end of August, they’d met and exceeded that goal, raising $63,000. Construction began almost immediately, and the beautiful new garage is now standing. Rebecca and Marty would like to thank:

  • the anonymous Bella’s Bumba supporter who donated and installed a larger overhead door
  • Wm. B. Morse Lumber
  • Catalino Gutter Systems
  • the amazing team of volunteers who did all of the inside finishing work including il=insulation, heating, electrical, lighting and shelving
  • the amazing community members from Webster and beyond who supported the project with their donations from day 1

The overall project was headed up by volunteer Tom Dobbins with the shelving design by Joe Callan.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/21/2025)

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Check out these amazing Christmas light displays

21 Dec

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about how much I enjoy driving around this time of year and seeing all of the Christmas lights. I invited readers to tell me if they knew of any particularly spectacular displays so I could share them with you. I received several emails and texts in response, and a few days ago I tracked down several of the recommendations I received.

Two of them in particular are blow-you-away amazing. Like, the kind of displays a city or town will set up in a park for people to drive through. These two are just that — set up along long driveways and expansive properties, hidden from the main roads, so you have to drive THROUGH them to experience their full glory. AND they’re so popular that the homeowners have turned them into fundraisers (keep reading to learn about that).

The first is located at 838 Shoemaker, created by the former owners of Hanks Ice Cream on North Ave. in the Village of Webster. Cindy Frank wrote about their display:

We use to do a light show at our house 20 years ago. And then when we owned Hanks, moved it up there for several years till we closed. All the decorations/lights & blow ups were in a trailer in the back. My husband wanted to recreate for our youngest grandchildren this year. He pulled out all the “Xmas stuff”; lots of damage from squirrels and mice but he’s been able to recreate a lot of it.

The Franks held an official lighting ceremony on the 13th (someone nearby even told me they heard fireworks), and will have the display lit from 5 to 9 p.m. every night through New Year’s. Look for the signs on the north side of Shoemaker Rd. and drive down Candy Cane Lane to see the spectacle.

The Franks’ display is also a fundraiser for Webster Comfort Care Home and 9 Mile Point Club, a local non-profit that supports needy families. Look for the collection mailbox along the driveway toward the end of the route.

There’s no way to adequately describe this display. Cindy sent a few photos which are below, but I also tried to capture most of it on video. It does a rather poor job of capturing the splendor, but you get the idea:

This next display is as spectacular as the Franks’ and is also a fundraiser.

You can see it at 1028 Bay Rd., down a (very bumpy) dirt driveway just north of the Bay Rd./Ridge Rd. intersection in West Webster. This stop was one of the last on my lights tour, so I didn’t have the energy to drive through it, but the traffic assistant (yes, it’s big enough for a traffic assistant) told me it stretched back for quite a distance. I did take a few photos:

This amazing display is a fundraiser for Camp Haccamo, a Rotary camp which serves children and adults with special needs.

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These two next Christmas light displays which readers shared with me are not as large-scale as those first two, but are spectacular in their own right:

1213 Severn Ridge

843 Independence Dr.

And on your travels, definitely make sure to head up to Lake Rd. This last display is courtesy Holly Anderson and her family, who have been doing this beautiful presentation for 30 years (video courtesy Holly):

These photos and videos don’t do justice to the incredible-ness of these displays, so make sure to head out in the next few days to see them for yourselves.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/21/2025)

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The Hojack elves are at it again

20 Dec

The snow is gone and temperatures aren’t TOO bad, so it’s a great time to take a walk along the Hojack Trail. And when you do, you might just come across a wee bit of holiday cheer.

An ambitious trail elf has once again added some cheerful decorations along the Hojack Trail between Drumm and Vosburg roads. Margaret Supinski was kind enough to snap a few photos and share them. This is at least the second year the decorations have appeared; around this time last year, Margaret sent along photos from the Hojack as well, which I posted in this blog.

Whoever’s responsible, thank you for spreading happiness and brightening our days!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/20/2025)

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No Facebook? No problem. Here’s another way to see my photos

19 Dec

I got an email recently from a reader, who asked an interesting question: Since he’s not on any social media platforms, is there any other way I could share my large photo galleries from special events other than posting them on Facebook?

It got me thinking that there are probably a lot of other people in the same boat. Even though I might take dozens of photos at certain events — like the recent Wreaths Across America Day and It’s a Wonderful Run 5K — I only put a few of them into the actual blog. It would be too cumbersome to post them all, so I dump them into a Facebook gallery. But not everyone can access Facebook, so they miss out on a lot.

So I pondered that problem a bit and came up with a solution: a shared Google file. Anybody who has the shared link can access it and see the photos.

So that’s what I’ve done, and I invite everyone to check out this link to make sure it works for you, especially if you’re not on Facebook. Right now it’s just one big file with sub-folders for individual events. But as I add more and more events, I’ll start offering links for just the sub-folders as well. And every time I put up a new gallery, I’ll include the link again.

Thanks for asking, Bruce!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/19/2025)

A heartwarming surprise for Pierson, CCO (Chief Collections Officer) of “Returns for a Reason”

18 Dec

You remember Pierson Farina. He’s the Spry Middle School 6th grader who established his own fund-raising operation earlier this year which he calls “Returns for a Reason.” His goal is to collect returnables from family members, neighbors, schoolmates, strangers — anyone and everyone — and every time he raises $100, he donates it to some worthy organization.

I first wrote about Pierson in September when he donated his first $100 check to the Webster Volunteer Fire Department, and then again in October to report that he’d already raised and donated $200 more, to Lollypop Farm and Honor Flight Rochester.

But that’s only a small part of the Pierson Farina story, and not what today’s blog is about.

You see, Pierson loves all things about garbage and recycling. Or, more specifically (as he says on his “96 Gallons of Fun!” YouTube channel), he loves “garbage trucks, garbage cans, recycle bins, composting, you name it!” He owns at least two model garbage trucks, runs his own small business cleaning garbage cans for his neighbors, and the trash and recycling truck drivers who service his street have gotten to know him very well.

Pierson loves garbage trucks and garbage cans so much that back in October he wrote a letter to Toter, Inc., a waste container manufacturer based in Statesville, NC, asking for his “dream Christmas present,” an official Toter wheeled cart — specifically, a green one with an orange lid.

No one, not even his mother, Catherine, expected a response. So she was just as surprised as anyone when a Toter representative reached out about a month later to arrange a surprise special delivery and make Pierson’s Christmas wish come true.

That heartwarming event unfolded Wednesday afternoon when Toter Regional Sales Manager Jamie Butler pulled up in front of Pierson’s house and unloaded the Toter cart. Moments later, a Casella Waste Systems side-loader garbage truck rumbled up behind her and started blasting its horn.

At first, Pierson had no idea why a garbage truck was idling outside his house. But when he stepped and spotted the Toter — a green one with an orange lid — topped with a giant green bow and personalized with his name and “Returns for a Reason,” he was speechless.

After Pierson had a chance to thoroughly inspect his shiny new recycling cart, Casella truck driver Anthony McQueen invited him to sit in the truck and operate the side-loader, grabbing and “emptying” the can into the truck’s bay. Then Pierson placed his first full bag of returnables into the can — the first of many to come, for sure.

It was a day that he will not soon forget.

Channel 13 was there as well, and filmed the whole event for their Wednesday night “Bright Spot” segment, which you can see here. (He was also the featured Bright Spot when he presented his check to the WVFD.)

Kudos to Wastequip/Toter and Casella Waste Systems for pulling this surprise together and making Pierson’s Christmas wish come true.

Here’s a bunch more photos:

Jamie Butler presents the Toter to Pierson
Pierson even got some Casella swag
Pierson at the controls
With Casella driver Anthony McQueen
Depositing his first bag of returnables

More about Toter, from their corporate office:

Toter has been a leader in waste and recycling solutions for more than 50 years, providing durable, innovative containers that help keep neighborhoods clean and sustainable. As a national company, we proudly serve haulers, cities, and towns across the country (in Webster they work with Casella Waste Systems) including communities like Webster—with products designed to make waste collection easier, safer, and more efficient. Our commitment to quality and sustainability continues to set the standard in the industry, and we’re excited to share stories that inspire creativity and community pride.

Marty Bryant, Toter CEO, wrote, “Pierson’s enthusiasm for our products is a great reminder of how creativity starts young. We’re proud to bring his vision to life and hope this Toter container inspires even more content on his (YouTube) channel.” 

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/18/2025)

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Webster inducts Athletic Hall of Fame inaugural class

17 Dec

Webster is a huge sports town.

We have two very successful high school athletic programs, multiple public and youth sports clubs, and high-quality sports facilities like the Webster Athletic Center, Webster Thomas Field House, Lakefront Soccer Club and several lighted stadiums, which draw athletes from all over the region for swimming and diving, softball, hockey, soccer and Special Olympics competitions.

Because of the Webster community’s strong commitment to sports, our programs have produced dozens of respected coaches and athletes who made a lasting impact here and have gone on to accomplish remarkable things.

On Friday, Jan. 2, the achievements of 23 of these men and women will be recognized when the Webster Central School District announces the inaugural class of the Webster Athletic Hall of Fame.

The entire community is invited to join the festivities. They begin with a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. in the Webster Schroeder auditorium, 875 Ridge Road. The celebration then moves that evening to Schroeder gymnasium, where the varsity girls basketball team will play at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., the action will pause for the public introduction and honoring of the inaugural Webster Athletic Hall of Fame class. The celebration concludes with the varsity boys basketball game immediately afterward.

These coaches and athletes, representing decades of Webster athletics, will be honored:

  • Kevin Akins, athlete – track, class of 1978;
  • Chris Barnes, coach – girls lacrosse, class of 1984;
  • Brian Bliss, athlete – soccer, class of 1983; 
  • Dave “Boots” Boutillier, athlete – cross country, track and field, class of 1988; 
  • Marc Carlton, athlete – swimming and diving, class of 2000; 
  • Jim Cripps, athlete – basketball, football, track, class of 1961; 
  • Carl Garritano, athlete – baseball, football, class of 2003; 
  • Gregor Gillespie, athlete – wrestling, class of 2005; 
  • William J. “Bill” Guerrera, coach – boys lacrosse, football
  • Colleen C. Kelly, athlete – basketball, soccer, softball, class of 2002; 
  • Patrick J. Kelly II, athlete – basketball,  football, lacrosse, class of 1983; 
  • Brian Kozlowski, athlete – football, class of 1988; 
  • Jim Kruze, coach – cross country, girls soccer, track and field, class of 1967; 
  • Rachel Kruze, athlete – soccer, class of 1999; 
  • Brenna Mason, athlete – soccer, class of 2012; 
  • Linda McCoy, coach – basketball, field hockey, softball; 
  • Bill O’Rourke Jr., coach and athlete – basketball, class of 1968; 
  • Bill O’Rourke Sr., coach – basketball; 
  • Thomas O’Rourke, athlete – basketball, class of 1970; 
  • Emily Resnick, athlete – lacrosse, class of 2015; 
  • Carrie Santore, athlete – gymnastics, class of 2000; 
  • Nina Scalzo, athlete – soccer, class of 2000; and 
  • Joseph Zaccardo, athlete – baseball, football, class of 2005.

The Webster Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates the rich athletic heritage of Webster’s public high schools. It recognizes the exceptional achievements of athletes, coaches, administrators, and community members who have shaped their winning traditions, be they Ridgemen, Lakers, Warriors, Titans, or Lions.

Plans have not yet been finalized for a permanent display of all of the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, so stay tuned for details about that.

Nominations are ongoing. The selection criteria include:

  • The candidate must have excelled in one or more sports while a student at any Webster public high school.
  • Former students must have graduated from Webster at least 10 years ago.
  • Coaches must be retired from the position at which they served, or been actively coaching at a Webster public high school for a minimum of 10 years before being considered for induction.
  • Athlete/coach must have been in good standing while participating on, or coaching an athletic team. and have conducted his or herself in such a way as to reflect honor on the school.

For more information and the nomination form, click here.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/17/2025)

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A thank you from the Knights of Columbus

16 Dec

Back in September I posted a blog about the Webster Knight of Columbus‘ 14th annual Coats for Kids initiative. Its purpose is to raise funds to purchase and distribute new winter coats to children in need throughout Monroe and Wayne counties. Over the last 13 years, our local KofC Trinity Council #4618 raised enough money to provide more than 4,100 coats AND 288 pairs of sneakers.

This year, thanks to the incredible generosity of the Webster community and business owners, the Knights were able to purchase an amazing 552 new winter coats for distribution to children in need. The coats were distributed earlier this month to 32 charitable organizations, school districts and churches throughout the Rochester area. In Webster, organizations which received coats included Webster Hope, Webster Community Chest and the Webster Central School District.

J. Stewart Coon, Chairman of “Coats for Kids,” wrote,

Every year I am amazed at the generosity from our membership, various organizations, and the general public who answered our call for donations. The Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council #4618, wishes to THANK all who contributed in any way. A special thanks to Cottreall-Warner Sons of the American Legion, Cottreall-Warner American Legion Auxiliary, Tubridy Financial Advisors, Town & Country Landscape Enterprise, John R. Robb, MD, Rich Marlin Financial Advisor, & Spoletta Construction for their most generous donations.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/16/2025)

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Best. Run. EVER.

15 Dec

Neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night, nor biting cold will keep the Webster Village Runners from enjoying a fun wintry run together, and Saturday afternoon was no exception.

Once again this year, the Webster Village Runners were extremely well represented at the 2025 It’s a Wonderful Run 5K held in Seneca Falls Saturday evening. It matched the largest group we’ve ever had participate (at least four cars and a packed van made the hour-long trip), and a few had never experienced this race before — so that made it even more fun. It always draws thousands of runners (this year the total was almost 4,400), and almost everyone dresses up in holiday attire, including bells, Santa hats, elf costumes and Christmas lights. I saw people dressed as Christmas trees and snowmen, the Grinch and a Yeti, and lots of tutus. Everyone is in a jolly mood.

This is a must-do run for any fan of the Jimmy Stewart classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s generally accepted that Frank Capra based his movie on the charming little village. There’s an It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, and the race begins adjacent to the bridge believed to be the inspiration for the one in the movie — plus, 85-year old Karolyn Grimes herself (who played Zuzu) starts the race by announcing the famous line, “Every time a bell rings, a angel gets his wings.”

The run is the culminating event of Seneca Falls’ annual It’s a Wonderful Life Festival, three days of activities and events including an art show, films, a breakfast, a parade and autograph sessions with three of the original actors: Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu), Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy) and Don Collins (young Pete Bailey).

True to its name, the It’s a Wonderful Run is more a run (or walk) than a race. For sure there are many runners who wiggle to the front of the pack to do their 4-minute miles, but many more thousands of us are content to walk most of the route, to experience everything there is to see and do along the way.

Seneca Falls village residents come out in force for this event. They set up fire pits and ring cow bells and give high-fives to all the runners. They hand out Fireball shots, vodka shots, whiskey shots, mudslide shots, pudding and Jello shots. At one house, they were grilling hot dogs and handing them to the runners. And all through the beautiful little village, the houses are ablaze with Christmas lights and Christmas music blares from the porches.

So there’s not a whole lot of running involved; there is a lot of stopping and sampling the treats and taking photos of the beautifully decorated homes along the route. But this is not a race for time. This is a run for fun. And doing it every year with my Village Runners buddies makes it even more enjoyable.

If you’re interested in seeing more photos from the event, click here for a Facebook gallery. (Or if you don’t have Facebook, click here.) I tried to capture some of the more outlandish costumes, and the sense of community generated by Seneca Falls as we all celebrate one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 12/15/2025)

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