‘Holiday Stroll’ in Mill River Park planned

STAMFORD — The city has its eyes fixed on the merriest time of the year: the wintertime holidays.

To celebrate the coldest months of the year, a cohort of organizations from across the city will host a full-fledged wintertime festival for the first time in Mill River Park that will run from the day after Thanksgiving until early January.

Popular city culture blog Hey Stamford — in collaboration with the Mill River Park Collaborative, Half Full Brewery and Norwalk’s Blind Rhino sports bar — will host the first annual Holiday Stroll at Mill River Park from Nov. 26 until Jan. 9, Hey Stamford announced on Tuesday.

“Whether you love the twinkle of lights, candy canes or your favorite Christmas music, the Holiday Stroll offers something special for everyone,” Ilario Altamura of event organizer Parachute Concerts said in a statement. “We can’t wait to share this wonderful immersive experience with families and friends throughout Stamford.”

Though the main features of the stroll are the 70-plus twinkling displays that will be scattered through the park featuring everything from reindeer to skating polar bears, the park will also host a Christmas village with music and a popup pizza shop. Nearby, Half Full Brewery will operate its Winter Beer Garden for the first time since 2019, serving up beer, wine, cider and food.

Also on tap, Stamford Downtown this year is hosting a Thanksgiving celebration at Mill River Park instead of its annual parade. Days before the Holiday Stroll begins — on Nov. 21 — the group will hold a stationary “park party” with some of the parade’s traditional balloons, marching bands and performers.

The Holiday Stroll will run on 37 nights across its seven-week stay in the park. Prices fluctuate from $15 to $25, depending on the night of attendance. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. each night, and visitors are admitted in four separate time slots.

Tickets and signup is available at https:// www.tixr.com/ groups/parachuteconcerts. For more information about the event, visit http://theholidaystroll.com.