Window dressing

Downtown Columbia came alive Friday for the annual Living Windows Festival. Onlookers braved the chilly evening to see a wedgied Grinch, tattooed elves and other colorfully attired people serve as decorations for the lit-up windows of businesses.

Carolers singing holiday tunes and the folks roasting chestnuts on an open fire added to the joyful spirit of the festival. Students from the Visual Merchandising class at Stephens College helped develop themes and serve as models for many of the businesses. Over at Maude Vintage, Ron Ribiat painted son Kelly’s face as they prepared for their roles in “Santa Claus does Christmas with the Martians”, inspired by the 1964 movie “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” Father and son came about their roles while shopping at the store earlier in the year. Kelly was doing the robot, Ribiat said, and a woman there thought his dancing would be a fun act for the window. Ribiat said the movie came to mind and it became the theme for the store’s holiday display.