On Friday, Dec. 6, the Lark Creek shops hosted the annual A Night In Winter Wonderland event. From 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., families enjoyed a holiday experience with festive lights, complimentary hot cocoa, gingerbread house decorating and professional photos with Santa. The event included local artisan pop-ups and small shops for visitors to enjoy.

 Organizer Kaylin Alexandra shared how COVID-19 inspired the event.

“During COVID-19, not a lot of people got together, so towards the end of the pandemic, we hosted an event like [A Night In Winter Wonderland] and it was such a hit that we made it a yearly tradition,” Alexandra said. 

Alexandra enjoys the event’s focus on bringing the community together in a fun and meaningful way. 

“My favorite part of the event is definitely having the community come together. The human connection is really powerful, and having an evening where everyone gathers and has simple fun is what makes it so special,” Alexandra said. 

Senior Jack Orlando enjoyed several aspects of the event, including the free hot cocoa and the festive atmosphere.

“The free hot chocolate was the best part, it was great to have while I was walking around. It was fun seeing all the holiday lights and running into people I knew. Everything was really well put together,” Orlando said. 

Orlando also appreciated the event’s focus on local businesses and communnity building. 

“The small shops made it feel unique, like you were supporting the community while having a good time. It’s events like these that make me appreciate how close our community is,” Orlando said.