Downtown Oregon was full of Christmas spirit Saturday for the 32nd annual Candlelight Walk. Businesses were decked out for the holiday event, horse-drawn carriage rides clippity-clopped down the streets, performers entertained with music and more, people played games and supported local businesses, and there was plenty of good cheer to go around. The first flickers of the walk started decades ago, at Conover Square Mall, where the mall’s business owners wanted to come up with a way to thank the community for its support throughout the year. Since then, the walk has grown into a much-anticipated community-wide event that still stays true to its original intent.
– Photos by Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media
Two-year-old Annie Port of Lanark gets her picture taken Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus during Oregon's Candlelight Walk.
Deveyn Reeverts, 8, of Oregon, tries to snatch prizes Saturday in Central Bank's Central Cyclone during Oregon's Candlelight Walk. Reeverts won some Dairy Queen coupons.
Free horse-drawn carriage rides were just one of the attractions offered at Oregon's Candlelight Walk on Saturday.
Aspyn, 1, and Aiden, 2, Bender, of Mount Morris visit Saturday with Zuma, one of the Paw Patrol characters, in front of W@SH, one of the downtown businesses that was open for Oregon's Candlelight Walk.
Makayla Danielson, 6, and her brother Mason, 5, smile Saturday while their mom takes a picture during their visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus during Oregon's Candlelight Walk.
Genesis Reinhold, 5, of Prophetstown, checks out a magic wand made of balloons Saturday while waiting to have a seat on Santa's lap during Oregon's Candlelight Walk.
Shoppers check out the merchandise in the Simply Home store in downtown Oregon during the Candlelight Walk. The specialty shop was one of several downtown businesses that decorated their windows and offered refreshments to shoppers during the Candlelight Walk and Small Business Day on Saturday.
A scene from the popular Disney movie, "Frozen," was recreated in Guist Insurance Agency's window for Oregon's Candlelight Walk.
Jada, 3, and Coda Suter, 5, of Oregon visited the Gingerbread House during Oregon's Candlelight Walk on Saturday.
Kallen, 6, Camden, 4, and Kohen Lessmane, 2, of Oregon, pose Saturday with Zuma from the Paw Patrol in front of W@SH during Oregon's Candlelight Walk
Reina Deleon-Smith, 4, of Mount Morris gives her handmade snowman bag a once-over Saturday at the kids craft table during Oregon's Candlelight Walk.