Right in Our Region
That Christmas Magic is Coming to Geneva By Stephanie N. Grimoldby
G
eneva has long enjoyed a reputation for its festivals, and the annual Christmas Walk and House Tour in December is, by far, the most festive time of them all. Excluding last year’s pandemic-hindered event, roughly 10,000 people annually flock to Geneva for the official start of the Christmas season. This year’s festivities take place Friday, Dec. 3. “Seeing people happy and knowing we’re the kickoff to most people’s holiday is a great feeling,” says Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. “There are carolers, lights – there’s just excitement, fun, energy. You feel it. Everyone is just full of happiness and spirit.” Ever since the Chamber started this celebration in 1946, it’s been a highly anticipated event that evolves each year.
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Smart Living West
Nov/Dec 2021
As is tradition, the Candy Cane Parade steps off at 5:45 p.m. Friday with a parade of sweets lovers trekking from Graham’s 318 Coffee House to the Third Street stage in front of the courthouse to present Mayor Kevin Burns with the first candy cane of the season. This year, the march has been dubbed Bob’s Candy Cane Parade in honor of Bob Untiedt, founder of Graham’s Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream as well as Graham’s 318 Coffee House. Untiedt died in March after battling cancer. Decades ago, Untiedt debuted the parade in combination with an old-fashioned candy cane pull at his shop. As is tradition, when the candy cane is delivered Santa Lucia (a Swedish tradition) arrives and her attendants pass out Swedish cookies to visitors. Burns and Santa Lucia will light the large Christmas
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tree on the courthouse lawn, and then Santa Claus arrives. Bill Otter has played Santa since 2019. “I’ve been super excited about it,” he says. “Santa has been part of the Christmas Walk forever, and Christmas Walk has continued to expand to be an amazing event.” All of these festivities typically play out between 6 and 6:30 p.m., Rush says. But there’s plenty more to enjoy the rest of Friday night and into Saturday. Visits with Santa are available at the courthouse lawn until about 9:30 p.m. Friday. Santa also is available in his new Winter Wonderland in the Geneva Visitors Center, 10 S. Third St., on Saturdays and Sundays throughout December. To keep Santa and his friends safe, visits will be by appointment only – but reservation time slots (available on the
