Neshota by the moonlight

On Saturday, hundreds upon hundreds flocked to Neshota Park in New Denmark to take part in a unique walk in the woods. That night, the Friends of Neshota hosted their annual Candlelight Hike through the park with adventurers from across the area and beyond joining in for an evening stroll along the trail. The Denmark News joined this year's hikers to experience this yearly winter celebration for ourselves.

For the last six years, the Friends of Neshota have set aside a Saturday night in the dead of winter to welcome one and all to see their park in a new light. This is the organization's largest event of the year with the large parking lot filled to the brim for much of the three hours.

On Saturday, one and all were invited to take part in this year's Candlelight Hike from 6 until 9 p.m. Friendly volunteers were stationed in the parking lot to direct traffic and greet visitors. Attendees were invited to follow a one-mile designated path through the woods along which volunteers had placed 1,000 battery-operated votive candles in white paper bags. Along with the flickering candles, hikers benefited from a cloudless sky and a nearly-full moon that lit up the night. Temperatures were in the mid- to upper-teens which, after the previous week's subzero temperatures, felt quite pleasant with the proper winter gear.

At the midway point of the trail, hikers were greeted with a roaring fire where they could warm up and toast their own complimentary s’mores before completing the loop back to the trailhead. Back at the shelter house, attendees were invited to thaw out and enjoy coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cake.

This year's Friends of Neshota Candlelight Hike was another huge success with hundreds enjoying a unique stroll through a great local park.