Snowflakes swirled around Christmas shoppers as they enjoyed the holiday magic of the first day of the 62nd annual Georgetown Christmas Market. 

Dec. 3 kicked off the 62nd annual, two-weekend-long Georgetown Christmas Market. The market, which takes place on Dec. 3 and 4 and Dec. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., features goods from local makers, warm food and drink, Christmas performances and a holiday experience like no other. 

One artisan was Stephanie Cole, owner of Wildwood Designs. Her booth in the European-style market was decked out with dried orange garlands, mushroom ornaments and many of her whimsical paintings. Cole has been painting original gouache works for her company for 6 years. 

Her works, Cole said, are “inspired by original dreams I’ve had.”

This was Cole’s second year selling at the market, but she’s spent many years coming to the Christmas market. 

“(I have a) long family tradition of coming to Georgetown,” she said. 

The Christmas market featured carriage rides through the streets, as well as appearances from St. Nicholas, the Santa Lucia Children’s Procession, Victorian carolers and more.  

Shoppers meandered through the street, checking out vendor booths and looking into shop windows. Two of those shoppers were Peter McMillin and Karen Pingitore, who discovered the charm of Georgetown a week prior.

“I’ve driven through it many times driving the pass,” McMillin said. 

The pair decided to stop and look in some shops last week, and knew they needed to come back for the Christmas market. 

McMillin is from Genesee, Colorado and Pingitore is from Henderson, Nevada. That didn’t stop them from making the trip to the first day of the Christmas market. 

“A town like this relies a lot on tourism,” Pingitore said. “It’s so important to support small businesses.” 

Many attendees have been supporting the small businesses of Georgetown for years and make the Christmas Market a yearly stop.

Shannon Poole and Doug McGuire from Denver have a family tradition of coming to the Christmas market. Poole’s parents came into town this year to celebrate their anniversary and attend the market like they have many times before. 

“They’re in town from Florida,” Poole said. 

Besides just the whimsy of being at the market, Poole said her mom had some things on her shopping list that she was planning to pick up on their trip. 

“There’s a hummingbird feeder she’s been eyeing for years,” Poole laughed. 

The first day of the Georgetown Christmas Market saw a mix of people from all over the country, some experiencing their first market and some coming back for a yearly tradition. Artisans and shoppers alike all said they couldn’t wait to see what the remaining days of the market would bring.