TH E H ISTORY O F NANT UCKET NO EL Since 1973, Nantucketers have come together to celebrate the Annual Christmas Stroll held in the Downtown Historic and Cultural Districts. The founders of Stroll initially created this event as a means of motivating Islanders to shop locally throughout the holidays. The inaugural Stroll lasted three hours and was a great success. Shopkeepers and ‘strollers’ were entertained with holiday lights, music, food and an abundance of holiday sales. Thrilled with the success of the first Stroll and desirous of continuing to promote the support of local businesses, Nantucket realized the benefit of further developing Christmas Stroll as an annual event, growing it from a three-hour event on one day to a full three-day celebration to ring in the holiday season. In 1974, the annual tradition of the Lighting of the Christmas Trees launched Stroll weekend and marked the beginning of Nantucket Noel season. The first islander to “flip the switch” was Board of Selectmen Chairman, Charles J. Gardener, illuminating the Downtown Historic District with Christmas trees and holiday cheer, implementing a tradition that, after 47 years, has become a beloved tradition. This has beautifully augmented the pervasively festive ambiance of Main Street and the downtown core, as islanders and visitors shop and ‘Stroll’ throughout town. Adding to the holiday magic, carolers line Main Street, singing yuletide ballads.
9 W WW.NANTUCKET N O E L . CO M • 508. 228. 1700 • # N A N T U C KET N OE L
