Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686
The 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk will take place Saturday December 14th from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in Geneseo, IL. This year’s theme is “Too Many Santas!” The 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk will celebrate Santa Claus himself, who has visited Geneseo, Illinois during its annual Geneseo Christmas Walk.
What is Too Many Santas? We want EVERYONE to dress like Santa Claus for this year's Geneseo Christmas Walk. We are honoring Santa this year. Think "Where's Waldo", only with Santas everywhere!
But where is the real Santa? Can you help us find him at the Geneseo Christmas Walk?
The 39th annual Geneseo Christmas Walk is hosted by the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber, commented, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk hosts one of the best small town holiday celebrations in the Midwest. Many people travel from afar to attend this annual community event, the biggest event Geneseo hosts all year. The annual Christmas Walk themes change year to year, and the event is very versatile. We thought it would be fun to flip the script of only being one Santa being at the event this year, and see Downtown Geneseo full of Santa Clauses.”
Sullivan said, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk is a kaleidoscope of holiday offerings, including live music, holiday shopping, warm meals, a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, living windows, luminaries, trolley rides and so much more! This has always been one of my favorite events in Geneseo. People from throughout our region make the annual trip to Geneseo to celebrate Christmas time!”
The Geneseo Christmas Walk has something for everyone. The Geneseo Jingle Run 5K race kicks of the big day’s festivities at 8:30 am. The Lighted Christmas Parade is a popular regional attraction, which steps off in Downtown Geneseo at 5:00 pm sharp. The parade leads up to the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony of the New City Christmas Tree at approx. 5:45 pm at the intersection of State and Second Streets. Meanwhile, the Central Bank Pavilion will host a Holly Jolly Christmas Party from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – featuring holiday themed dance music from a live DJ, a walk-through Christmas light display, and ice sculptures.
The Geneseo Christmas Walk started in 1986 as the Geneseo Victorian Walk, offering a unique way to celebrate Christmas in Geneseo while providing a boost to local small businesses during the holiday season. Since then, the event has become an all-time favorite for Geneseoans and visitors from the Quad Cities region alike – capturing the wonder and charm of experiencing Christmas in a Christmas Movie-like small town setting. Event organizers anticipate attendance of over 10,000 people this year. Geneseo’s population is 6,500 people.
The evening will be filled with Christmas magic in Geneseo and we invite you to join us both that evening and at any time in Geneseo, IL. Most events are free unless otherwise indicated, some meal and warming sites will accept free will donations.
Thank you to the Victorian Level Sponsors of the 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk: Fareway Meat & Grocery, J.F. Edwards Construction Co., and Springfield Armory.
For more information, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686, or visit the Geneseo Chamber’s website at www.geneseo.org for a full schedule of events.
