Page 36 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2019

COMMUNITY BUZZ
Experience the Holiday Magic
Troy, New York, has a rich history tied to the industrial boom of the early 19th century. For years, the city was a booming trade hub, directly exporting goods produced in Rensselaer County down to New York City via the Erie Canal. The “Collar City” of Troy – a phrase coined by the abundance of detachable collars
in the city’s many manufacturing
plants – was also the location where
the widely popular “The Night Before
Christmas” (then “A Visit from St.
Nicholas”) was published in 1823.
Today, this timeless era of Troy is
recreated for all to enjoy once a year
during the annual Troy Victorian Stroll.
For more than 30 years, the Troy Victorian Stroll has transformed the historic streets of downtown Troy into a magical stage that captures the essence of the holiday spirit. Now in its 37th year, the Victorian Stroll is a winter tradition unlike any other and has quickly become the largest free holiday festival in the Northeast. Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular stroll attendee, you won’t want to miss the spectacle of this year’s Troy Victorian Stroll on Sunday, Dec. 8. Bring the whole family for a day full of fun that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
As you walk through Troy’s historic downtown,
you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of a charming, simpler, Victorian time. You’ll find no shortage of holiday merriment in the form of costumed street performers and timeless holiday decorations. Though it
isn’t required, stroll attendees always are encouraged to come fully dressed in their very finest Victorian garb.
More than 100 of the top regional performers will fill the streets and provide endless entertainment for all stroll attendees. Musicians, carolers, dancers, stilt-walkers and magicians are just some of the acts you can expect to see as you
make your way through the stroll. Keep an eye out for rides from antique trolleys and firetrucks, and even more surprises, including a visit from Santa himself.
And when it comes to performers, it’s a “Stroll
must” to visit the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. This Troy landmark is widely admired as one of the most celebrated auditoriums in the country, lauded for its beauty and phenomenal acoustics. For this year’s stroll, it will offer free mini-concerts open to the public featuring some of the Capital Region’s most renowned vocalists
28 I NOV/DEC 2019