Finding Minnesota: Pedaling & Caroling Around Stillwater
STILLWATER, Minn. (WCCO) -- It seems like people don't go Christmas caroling as much anymore.
Whether they're tired of the old traditions or don't have the time anymore, there's now a caroling option in Stillwater that's newer and faster.
The BierCycle allows riders to sing several carols and tour the town in 35 minutes.
It's a multi-person pedal bike owned by the Joseph Wolf Brewing Company. The BierCycle is usually seen in the warmer months, but the two sisters who own the company, Pat Wolf and Kathy Wolf Swanson, wanted to keep it out through the holidays.
"I mean, who can carol on a bike in the winter?' Kathy said. 'Minnesota!"
"People come to Stillwater looking for fun things to experience, and being the birthplace of Minnesota, we just felt that it was appropriate to carol and to pedal around downtown Stillwater," Pat said.
Bill Buth is one of two drivers trained to navigate the streets of Stillwater.
"Well, it's a very historic town, and I think it brings back some history," he said. "Maybe the idea that they have is the horse-drawn carriage. Well, this is a people-drawn carriage."
Valerie Miller of Stillwater said the cold weather isn't much of a factor.
"You just bundle up like you do for ice fishing or snowmobiling or anything else," she said.
The riders are allowed to bring their own warm drinks -- or cold ones.
"We don't push the alcohol in any way, shape or form," Buth said. "You can bring beer and wine onboard."
The spirits that they're mostly focused on are those they see around town.
"Singing Christmas carols is really part of the season," Miller said. "And it gets me in the mood for Christmas, definitely."
The BierCycle has a stereo system playing Karaoke-style background music to keep everyone in the same key.
It runs Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. between Thanksgiving and New Year's with advance reservations required.