A Dickens of a Carriage Ride

Lafayette designates itself as the Christmas Capital of the Midwest. December is a festive month with the largest Christmas parade in the state, the Purdue Christmas Musical Show, McCord's Candies (which makes and ships homemade candy canes all over the world), and today's Dickens of a Christmas festival.

All of downtown (whose buildings are old, original 1800s-style architecture) is turned into a Victorian town with strolling carolers, an organ grinder, a brass band playing Christmas music, and a re-enactment of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We decided to head downtown this morning with our kids and grandchildren.

We had a super time watching the organ grinder...

... and listening the the brass band...

The candy canes were yummy and it was fun watching them being made.

I didn't think the day could get any better. But then I spied this:

 A horse and carriage coming down Main Street!

I went over to say "hello" to the horse, and the driver invited us to go for a ride. It turned out that free rides were being given all day long.

I wasn't going to turn that offer down, so Jessica, Cambria, and I climbed into the carriage and away we went through downtown Lafayette! (I love the look on Cambria's face!)

 My view during the ride.

 Curt and Ian took the next ride.

I filmed their ride - that's Cambria wailing because she wanted to go again. Likewise Ian cried when his ride was over, too.

There was also a team of Clydesdales pulling a buckboard that could hold more people. I'm glad we got to ride in that beautiful carriage. For me, it was the best part of the day!