Geneva to unwrap Christmas Walk Weekends in lieu of traditional holiday kickoff

GENEVA – The Geneva Chamber of Commerce has canceled the traditional Christmas Walk scheduled for Dec. 4 because of the pandemic, but will offer Christmas Walk Weekends throughout December.

According to a news release from the Chamber, Christmas Walk Weekends will be Dec. 4-6, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 19-20. Each weekend will feature something different that brings the holiday spirit to the city.

The first weekend's theme will be "Traditions, Old & New," which will feature the lighting of the Christmas tree and decorations on the courthouse lawn. A time will not be released so that crowds cannot gather, the release stated. Shops and restaurants will be open all weekend.

"Carols & Music" is the theme of the second weekend. Families can sing and sip hot cocoa in the outside caroling tent. Families of up to five people can reserve a table for $10. Strolling musicians will be meandering around the downtown. Shops and restaurants will be open, the release stated.

The final weekend of the event brings a Cocoa Crawl to the downtown. Tickets will be on sale later this month.

Santa will be moving to a different temporary downtown Geneva location this year. Children will be able to speak to him from outside the location from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and registration will be required. The cost is $10 per family.

Children can write letters to Santa and drop them in one of three mailboxes – at the corner of James and Third streets, in front of the Geneva Visitors Center at 10 S. Third St., or at the new Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St.

Santa will be riding in a horse-drawn carriage from 10 to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 5 to 20, traveling from James Street to Crescent Place and back to James Street.

“We know holidays in Geneva are very popular and looked forward to, not only by the locals, but visitors to Geneva as well. This event has become a tradition for families and we look forward to seeing everyone for our annual Christmas Walk in 2021,” Paula Schmidt, president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, said in the news release. “Continue to follow our Facebook and Instagram and check our website for updates.”

Information about the events, including registration, will be available at genevachamber.com by mid-November. Because of the pandemic, the Geneva Chamber may have to alter events, the release stated.