Orillia’s downtown took a step back in time Saturday with free horse-drawn sleigh rides along Mississaga Street.
“I wanted to get out with the kids,” Orillia resident Amber Chatten said as she waited to board the sleigh with her children Tristan, Jordan and Everly.
“They don’t see horses very often.”
Chatten said her family has been enjoying the Christmas season.
“We’ve been trying to get to a lot of activities this year. We went to the breakfast with Santa and also the event at the Mariposa Market. There have been a lot of cool things to do.”
Nakeeta and Jesse Porter enjoyed the sleigh ride with daughters Luna and Willow.
“We went to Mariposa Market for lunch and then came to see the horses,” Nakeeta Porter said, noting they’re pretty much finished their Christmas shopping that included some downtown purchases.
“We bought some stuff for the girls at Jack and Maddy (a kids’ store).”
Coldwater resident Ashley Girard said she wants to get away from buying too much this Christmas.
“I think it’s a good year to make some changes,” Girard said after picking up some things downtown at the Refillery District shop.
“There’s too much consumerism. The bottom line is we need a more sustainable world. I’m buying things to make my own Christmas ornaments as gifts and will try to buy services for people this year.”
Free downtown sleigh rides will be available the next two Saturdays as well.
