We were picked up just after 10am by the driver from the Icicle Ranch. It was only about a 15min drive to the sleigh ride area. I thought we would go up into the mountains but we didn't. There were a range of sleighs there from small to large. We had chosen to pay extra for a private sleigh ride assuming we would get the small ones that really look like a sleigh. But, it wasn't to be. The scenery was beautiful. There were mountains all around and snow covered fields everywhere. We passed the Icicle River which was mostly frozen over. There were a couple of bits still flowing but they had chunks of ice on them which just bank up so flowing water eventually disappears. It was another sunny day & at 0 degrees it was a bit warmer than yesterday. Our sleigh driver's name was Wendall & the mules pulling it were Bill & Bob. We were on the sleigh for about 30mins. It was nice but not quite what we had expected. After our ride we went into the tent & were given a hot chocolate.
The driver took us back into town where we picked up a few souvenirs. I like to get something culturally specific from somewhere I visit on these holidays. This year I have bought a Smoking Man. These are traditional German wooden figures which have an open mouth & a pipe coming out. The figures come apart & you put an incense cone in it. It looks like the smoke is coming out of the pipe. I got a man playing a squeezebox.
We walked down to the Waterfront park to see what was there but there wasn't much. Just snow, trees & a bit of water. It is probably very pretty in spring.
We went to the Gingerbread Factory which smelt delicious! There was no way I was not having a gingerbread. It was soft and gingery. Yum!!!!
We stayed around the gazebo, watching the various singers & instrumentalists while enjoying the sun. There was a school choir who were very good & the Christmas Tubas which consisted of 1 tuba & 3 other German horns.
The lighting ceremony was on at 4.15pm again. It wasn't nearly as crowded as yesterday but there were still plenty of people around. Tonight's special guests included a member of the local chamber of commerce, who was a man who had served us in a shop today, and the Distinguished Young Lady of Leavenworth. They have such weird things in these small towns. There was another school choir performing who were all decked out in traditional Bavarian costumes. They were excellent.
We stayed out as long as possible but the temperature drops significantly once the sun sets. We got back to the hotel at 5pm & it was -12.
We went back out just before 6.30pm to watch the living nativity. It must have started early because the wise men were coming as we arrived. Even the baby was real so I hope it was well swaddled. There were no animals though.
We found another German style restaurant for dinner but this one didn't have any live music. At least we didn't have to queue up tonight!