Welcome! On behalf of the Staunton Downtown Development Association, thank you for joining us for SDDA’s Downtown Holiday Window Walk. We hope you enjoy this community-wide effort to bring to life a story about joy, resilience, persistence, grace, and kindness.
May the walk you take with us spark a little holiday spirit in you—this season and year-round. Thank you for sharing your time and energy with us.
We hope you enjoy “A Holly Jolly Holiday.”
-Scotty Tiernan, Events and Marketing Director, Staunton Downtown Development Association
Window #1 (of 8)
When the ground finally thawed and the wind lost its chill
An eager friend took a chance early on
With grin-perked cheeks and a shovel under foot
A row of seeds was placed at dawn.
Now Holly is quite hardy. A shrub that can tolerate
quite a high-strung range of temperaments
With a vibrancy so joyous and shape so poignant
Come rain, sleet or snow it persists.
Window #2 (of 8)
Collins Market (29 W Beverley St.)
All year they were enjoyed; the lush green leaves
Their gradated gold outlines coated in a waxy sheen
When the white blooms fell ’way and the nights outlast the days
The plush red berries became the sight to be seen…
Window #3 (of 8)
CoArt Gallery (22 W Beverley St.)
A deep freeze fell upon the town one eve
No moon to be seen, the winds blew in mountains of snow
After the last flakes fell, the barren landscape frozen white
Expect for the Holly bush… she put on a show!
Window #4 (of 8)
Queen City Music Studios (16 W Beverley St.)
Her span had grown wide, like a dazzling Marquee
The product of attention, some care and pruning
The trimmings were shared and brought joy to the town
Soon Holly was the very center of communing
Window #5 (of 8)
Latitudes Fair Trade Store (16 E. Beverley St.)
The boughs, the berries, the leaves all took center stage
Be it tables, banisters, wreaths or frames.
Everyone grateful for a piece of the beauty, overzealous
some began taking without asking, leaving no remains.
Window #6 (of 8)
Juniper Lane (29 E Beverley St.)
The Holly once grand, now needed time to heal and regrow
Our disheartened friend was determined to learn from this event
He noticed all season the Holly dropped berries like little presents
“Ah-Ha!” Now he knew, a repeat of this, he could prevent
Window #7 (of 8)
Heirloom Home (101 E. Beverley St.)
The following year the strength and resilience of the Holly
Was on full display, rich leaves so dense, no branch could be seen
The town all a flutter, with a few a little surprised to find a sign that read
Please look, but don’t cut, and knock on the door before you leave.
Window #8 (of 8)
Billy Opal (119 E. Beverley St.)
Knock! Knock! Knock! A neighbor apologized,
We are sorry for taking last year without concern.
Our gracious friend replied, “We forgive you, Holly and I,
And hope, from this we can all grow and learn.”
“Before you go we have something to share…
– All the joy Holly brings and seasonal cheer.
I planted her seeds, here’s a sapling of your own.
Have A Holly Jolly Holiday this year.”