Under warm, dry and bright blue skies Saturday, the inaugural ‘Tis the Season Street Stroll on Columbia Street in downtown Bogalusa attracted people from across the region, and it got local folks to shop at home during one of the biggest shopping periods of the year when many would be inclined to take their purses and head down the road.

Put on by the Bogalusa Main Street District, with some expert assistance in getting quality outside vendors from Marsha Rogers, the stroll also featured downtown and other city businesses, plus daylong live entertainment, lots of mouth-watering food choices, caricatures, pony rides and Santa Claus. Visitors could even purchase a Christmas tree.

The crowds came early Saturday and kept streaming in throughout that day and the next. Some brought their plates of food to the tables in front of the small stage that was set up in the future pocket park. As they listened to one gifted musical group after another, they chatted, laughed and wished one another Merry Christmas.

Many who sat and many who passed carried bags brimming with new purchases.

Main Street Manager Robin Day scanned the growing crowd shortly after noon on Saturday.

“I’m so excited!” she exclaimed.

One after another local business owner and resident echoed that sentiment.

Under warm, dry and bright blue skies, and with a forecast of more to come, the Stroll seemed to take on something of a kindly swagger Saturday as Bogalusans met, in the midst of the festivities, and loudly noted the signs that the city’s revitalization is being realized.