Main Street Christmas: Holiday Celebration in St. Charles, Missouri

A woman cups her hands around her eyes and peers curiously in through the window of Boone's Colonial Inn, momentarily dissolving the historical spell cast here. My friend Natalie and I sit by the potbelly stove in the dining room and wonder what to do. Wave? Open the door?

Instead, not quite ready to rejoin the 21st century, we pretend not to notice. She wanders away, and we giggle. Maybe she saw innkeeper Stephen Powell in his tricorn hat and thought we were volunteer actors preparing for Christmas Traditions, St. Charles' holiday fest. It would be a fair mistake. Since we arrived, we've felt like part of the show.

Click ahead to read more about Midwest Living's trip to St. Charles, Missouri. A trip guide is on slides 7 to 10.

Pictured: Guests at Boone's Colonial Inn enjoy a front-row seat to the festivities in St. Charles, Missouri.