Women in full-length furs, men with hats adorned with twinkling lights and dogs in sweaters strolled Canyon Road on Thursday night, braving cold temperatures and icy streets to observe a Santa Fe tradition.

They sipped hot chocolate and apple cider, sang carols and other songs, and took in the displays of farolitos, luminarias and other Christmas lights that have marked the Farolito Walk since it began in the late 1970s.

Lily and David Waterman of Santa Fe warmed themselves by a bonfire outside the Wiford Gallery at 403 Canyon Road. They said they had not been to the Farolito Walk in years, but came this year to show their 2 1/2-year-old son, Morgan.

Their friend, Melissa Houser, said the Farolito Walk "was totally my childhood."

"Back then there was more stuff everywhere," she said, pointing to the paper bags illuminated by votive candles, known locally as farolitos. "They would put them in stacks in trees and they were on every surface of the houses. Probably there was more neighborhood participation then."

Last year, Santa Fe police were accused of wrongfully arresting two women during the walk. But Canyon Road resident Marilyn Bane said Thursday's event started out peacefully.

"It's very quiet so far, but it's still early," she said about 6:30 p.m.

Bane said she was glad to see the police using bicycles and an all-terrain vehicle to patrol rather than cars and that the only two vendors were licensed.

"We've tried to discourage any commercialism to begin with, but certainly without a permit," she said. "Used to be, everybody handed out bizcochitos and hot chocolate for free, so it's sort of a sign of the times that that isn't happening. But I think so far, it seems quite lovely."

Locals like Doug Fraiser thought the crowds were down slightly from years past. But people who had never been to the Farolito Walk before found it unique.

Loretta Sturgis of Naples, Fla., and her daughter, Sharon Sturgis, from Arlington, Texas, participated in the walk during their holiday visit to Santa Fe. Today, they planned to drive to Taos.

Loretta Sturgis said her hometown puts on a fabulous display for Christmas, but it lacks both farolitos and snow.

"We don't get this," she said, motioning to the piles of snow along the route. "But on one of the main streets, they blow it in with some kind of machine."

Even Santa Claus made Thursday's Farolito Walk.

"You've been good — I can tell," he told a toddler in a stroller who reached into Santa's bag to grab a handful of candy.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.