BLACK HAWK — Gregory Street picked up a little extra magic Sunday afternoon, December 14, when live reindeer paid a visit to JKQ BBQ, stopping passersby in their tracks.

Holly and Savannah, two six-year-old reindeer from Jessen Reindeer Ranch, spent the afternoon munching hay and calmly posing for photos while visitors leaned against the railings for a closer look. 

Questions were abundant. Are they real? Do they pull Santa’s sleigh? Are they from the North Pole? Can you pet them? Do both the males and the females have antlers?

Jessen Ranch handlers patiently explained that reindeer have been domesticated for about 3,000 years and that, unlike the boys who lose their antlers in late fall, the girls keep theirs through winter to dig for food and fend off predators.

The holiday scene continued inside with a hot cocoa bar loaded with all the essentials: whipped cream, caramel, candy canes, marshmallows, and sprinkles. 

Outside, by the reindeer pen, Kara and Joe Tinucci fired up their food truck, serving In-N-Out-style burgers, hot dogs, fries, and loaded fries to hungry visitors. The truck raised $200, matched by JKQ, totaling $400. The pair plans to donate the funds to the Nederland Fire relief efforts.

Handlers also shared bits of reindeer history, from their roots in Europe and Asia to their introduction to Alaska in the late 1800s as working animals, clearing up the common confusion between reindeer and their larger North American cousins, caribou.

Set against Black Hawk’s “Christmas Street” decorations, the reindeer visit turned an ordinary Sunday into a small holiday event, complete with warm drinks, hot food, and a reminder that sometimes the best seasonal moments come with antlers.