Nevada County is Magical during the Holidays

I was walking on Broad Street in Nevada City yesterday.  We had about 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground, the view down Broad Street toward the crest of Banner Mountain was just beautiful.  I walked past a couple who were coming out of Broad Street Bistro, enjoying steaming hot drinks, and the woman said to her husband… “I feel like I am in a Currier and Ives greeting card; this town is so magical”.

She is so right.  Nevada County is so magical during the entire year, but especially during the Holiday Season.  Both Nevada City and Grass Valley celebrate with historical celebrations of our County.  Nevada City holds  their Victorian Christmas on three Wednesdays and two Sundays during December, ending just before Christmas.   During this event, Nevada City’s Historic District is transformed to the back in time to the Victorian Gold Rush era.   All the buildings up and down Broad Street, Commercial Street, and Pine Street glow with the outlines of white Christmas lights.  The streets are filled with Holiday celebrants,  shopping the street merchants who bring their special wares to town and sampling the delicious offerings of the local purveryors of food and cheer.   It is a time when we reconnect with friends we have not seen enough of over the past year, to meet new friends, and to bask in the joy of the holidays.

Grass Valley is certainly not left out of the Holiday spirit!  Come to Grass Valley on four Friday nights, starting the night after Thanksgiving,  and recapture the spirit of Christmas past amid the charming historic builidings of downtown Grass Valley.   This dates back to the Cornish Miners of the Gold Rush days, when the  weekends before Christmas brought folks into town to meet and greet their friends.  Mill Street and Main Street are closed to motorized traffic and the night is filled with celebration …. carolers, gospel choirs, carriage rides, Grass Valley Cornish Choir, cloggers and all sorts of food and drink.  Well, and what would a street festival be without Santa claus!!!  He is able to make it to Grass Valley and to Nevada City to bring Holiday happiness to all.

We are lucky to be in such a beautiful place…..  It truly is Magical.  Happy Holidays to you all and a very, very  wonderful 2009!!!!

Konnie Warburton