Photos by Doug Krieger and Sue Wielgopolan

Web site exclusive: Click here to view photos of Monument's Harvest Festival

Dec. 4: Monument Small Town Christmas 

Below (left): Celebrants enjoy a tour of historic Monument conducted by tractor driver Aaron Goodman. High Country Store sponsored the hay rides as part of the Historic Monument Merchant Association’s annual event. Below (right): High Country Store co-owner Cathy Woodworth demonstrates how to create a layered candle using colored wax beads to Eric (seen at far left) and Stacy (in center) Tronnier. The candle-making craft was one of the many family activities offered as part of Monument's Small Town Christmas. 

Below (left): Girl Scout Mary Sharrett helps brothers Joshua (center) and Cody (far right) Burris create bumlebee and ladybug pins. Each year Girl Scout Troop 393, under the direction of Troop leader Cindy Peterson, bakes cookies, makes cider, and provides volunteer help for the holiday craft activities at Town Hall. Vicky Elliot, owner of The Office Center, annually provides art materials and helps coordinate the craft center. Below (right): The Gifford Family, consisting of (from left) Meghan, Abbey, Ellie, dad Andy, and mom Alex, assemble Christmas wreaths from pre-cut foam pieces as Girl Scout Troop 393 volunteers (standing, from left) Sarah Watson and Kyla Maletsky supervise. The Giffords are new to the area and thoroughly enjoyed their first taste of the yearly celebration.

Below: Carollers from the Lewis Palmer High School Chorus Department, accompanied on guitar by Chorus Director George Douthit (in white baseball cap), serenade the crowd waiting for a hay ride at Small Town Christmas.

Dec. 12: Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt

Below: Kendra Wuerth, this year’s finder of the Yule Log, rides with her father Jonathan as the log is hauled by participants from its hiding place in the woods back to Town Hall. Kendra is a repeat finder, having also been the first to spot the log in 2001.

Below (left): Bagpiper Sam Swancutt entertains Yule Log revelers before the official start of the hunt. Palmer Lake's annual Yule Log celebration, held for the first time in 1933, is the second oldest in the nation. Below (right): Participants wait for the start of the hunt outside of the Palmer Lake Town Hall.

Below (left): Trail bosses Tim Watkins (in cape carrying ropes) and Tom Allen (in cape wearing baseball cap) instruct the crowd on Yule Log hunt rules before the start of the hunt. Below (right): Trail Boss Tom Allen helps load Yule Log hunt participants onto the found log for the trip back to the Palmer Lake Town Hall. Seated on the front of the log is this year's finder Kendra Wuerth. According to tradition, the finder rides in front, and other hunters take turns riding behind.

Below (left): Yule log hunt participants pull the log back up to Town Hall from the woods where it was hidden. Below (right): Kendra Wuerth, finder of the log for 2004 (holding saw handle) assists trail bosses Tim Watkins (behind Kendra) and Tom Allen (opposite) in sawing up the Yule Log, while the crowd watches. Pieces of the log will then be burned in the Town Hall fireplace during festivities following the hunt. According to tradition, one piece of this year's log will be saved to start next year's Yule Log fire.

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