EDITORIAL: Winter Walk was a winter wow

The crooning of a saxophone in the streets of Hudson could be heard as mothers, fathers and their children weaved in and out of the little shops and restaurants Saturday. It was Winter Walk 2019, and the sax, played by Santa Claus (who else?) got visitors in the right mood.

Cool jazz on a chilly winter night.

Santa’s Parade began the day at City Hall, 520 Warren St., where Hudson’s mayors, past, present and future, gathered to honor Ellen Thurston, the “Queen of Winter Walk,” who took over organization of the annual Hudson tradition in 2001. Mr. and Mrs. Claus waved as they were chauffeured down Warren Street in a horse and carriage, passing by windows decked out with dazzling displays. Some of the windows came to life, including the window of Second Show, 519 Warren St., which featured ballroom dancers in the forms of Guy Apicella and Rachael Kappel.

The show went on despite the season’s first major winter storm Dec. 1-3. The storm threatened Winter Walk after it buried Warren Street under almost two feet of snow, but the city’s Department of Public Works and the Air National Guard, dispatched on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order, cleared the street for the night’s festivities. Fittingly, the Winter Walk judges voted to give a special Most Heroic Award to the DPW and National Guard crews.

Add to this the area’s musical talent from jazz ensembles, marching bands and carollers, like Victorian Voices of Athens, who all spread holiday cheer through song, and it was a fabulous day for everyone. Congratulations to the Winter Walk Committee for doing an extraordinary job under extraordinary conditions.