While first Fridays always bring excitement to downtown Columbia, Friday Dec. 2 was especially vibrant. The city celebrated the annual Living Windows displays, in which stores’ employees act out scenes for on lookers. Beyond windows, the event also offered open houses, live music and a kick off to the holiday season. Senior Gretchen Cone was impressed with the ornate and festive displays, but she was even more enchanted on how they impacted people.
“Stopping in front of the different displays and talking with complete strangers about how good it was [was the best part],” Cone said. “Everyone was in such a friendly, jolly mood. You could talk to anyone.”
The daughters of Route’s owner ham it up in the windows. They are stringing popcorn onto garlands and drinking hot chocolate. Earlier in the evening, children from Le Petite Ecole sang French carols in front of the store.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
RBHS alumni Emily Harl comforts Bella, a four-month-old rottweiler, at Cha Boutique. While the initial hope for the display was for Bella to be sledding, she was less than cooperative. Even with these challenges many still flocked to see the scene.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
Business partner of Bluestem, Sandy Leticky, sits in the window dressed as a large present. Liticky claims being a present is harder than it looks, as the size and cube like shape is hard to maneuver, but fun nonetheless.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
Young actors from the PACE theater group act out the classic Alice in Wonderland. These youthful thespians brought their talent to La Blanc Studio for the night to promote their performances throughout the year. 
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
Brian Audiffred makes his Santa Claus debut. This is first time participating in living windows. Through the night he noticed more people coming into Rallyhouse and he enjoys performing for them.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
A fortune teller at Poppy gives encouragement to a young patron. The clairvoyant congratulates the little girl on her tests grades and tells her to keep up her hard work. The prophet then rewards her with a shiny star sticker.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
While Christmas lights are ubiquitous this time of year, these have a twist. Maude Vintage displays a scene from the hit Netflix original series Stranger Things. The experience was even interactive with an actor playing the character of Joyce Byers, asking passers by if they had seen her son.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
Little puppies snooze in the window of Lizzi and Rocco’s pet supply store. These dogs are open for all visitors to pet and are up for adoption. In addition to promoting adoption, the store offers animal sponsorship through the holidays.
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
Secret Garden won the first place prize for the 2016 living windows, with its rendition of pinocchio. There was still magic even behind the scenes, as the store served apple cider and the characters continued to flaunt their intricate costumes. 
Photo By Éléa Gilles
What was your favorite display? Leave a comment below.
