Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
The 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk will take place Saturday December 13th from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in Geneseo, IL. The 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk marks the 40th Anniversary of the annual Geneseo Christmas Walk.
The Geneseo Christmas Walk theme of "Windows of Hope" is the designated theme for the 2025 event. This theme encourages a celebration of hope and the holiday spirit within the community. It involves businesses and residents decorating their windows into the popular Living Windows to reflect messages of optimism and Christmas cheer. The theme aims to capture the wonder and charm of the holiday season in a small-town setting.
New this year, the Windows of Hope concert will take place at 7:30 pm at the Geneseo High School Performing Arts Center. As the finale to the 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk, “Windows of Hope” is a free Contemporary Christmas Celebration Concert. Come sing with us! You’ll know every song! Some high energy, some emotional, yet all filled with joy and hope during the holiday season. The evening will close in candlelight.
The 40th annual Geneseo Christmas Walk is coordinated 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 that after 40 years, it would be a great idea to pay homage to the Living Windows that have been a staple of the event for the past four decades.” 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 off 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 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, ice sculptures, and a trackless holiday train for the kids to enjoy.
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.