By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

This year’s Christmas walk will take a step back in time with its theme of Victorian Walk Throwback, and food and festivities will again highlight the 2022 Geneseo Christmas Walk on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The annual Walk is sponsored each year by the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and Zack Sullivan, executive director of the Chamber commented about the 2022 event and said, “Victorian Walk Throwback is a theme that pays homage to the origin of the Christmas Walk event. Many people think fondly of the Victorian Walk era and after 15 years, we thought it would be fun to do a ‘throwback’ theme this year to celebrate the history of one of Geneseo’s favorite community events.”

Sullivan said, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk is a kaleidoscope of holiday offerings, including live music, shopping, living windows, 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!”

He continued, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk has something for everyone. The Lighted Parade is a regional attraction, while the Central Bank Pavilion of Lights will provide the perfect holiday backdrop of illumination – featuring a walk-through Christmas light display, and ice sculptures will return this year, also at the Central Bank Pavilion.”

“The Geneseo Chamber works to balance the best of our traditional elements,” Sullivan added. “And what is neat about 2022 is that we are taking the original Victorian Walk theme and putting it through the modern Christmas Walk lens.” We are hoping that the end result will be one of the most spectacular Christmas Walk events that Geneseo has ever hosted.”

As visitors and residents travel through this year’s “Geneseo Walk Throwback,” they will have a choice to stop at any one of several Geneseo churches to share a meal and conversation.

The popular Lighted Christmas Parade will kick off the evening at 5 p.m. on Walk night at North State Street with lighted themed floats from local businesses, organizations and individuals.

At 5 p.m. the parade will travel through downtown to City Park; at 5:45 p.m. people are invited to the annual tree lighting at the intersection of State and Second Sts., where Santa will lead a countdown to light the City Christmas Tree.

An abundance of entertainment and activity is planned throughout the day and includes:

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 SCHEDULE:

-7:30 a.m. - Registration for the Jingle Run at The Victory Center, 218 South State St. The first 100 registered runners will receive a race T-shirt, and all runners will receive a jingle bell to affix to their clothing. All runners are encouraged to dress in holiday garb. Registration for the Geneseo Jingle Run can be done at https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=295492 or visit https://www.geneseo.org/geneseo-jingle-run-5k. The race steps off at 8:30 a.m.

Luminaries will be set up in City Park at from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10, and volunteers are needed to help with setting up.

-11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Children’s Activity – Create A Special Sparkling Candle and Mail Your Own Letter to Santa at RutabagA Art, 108 North State St.

-11:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Geneseo Middle School Swing Choir Caroling.

-12 noon to 3 p.m. – Pony rides for kids at the Geneseo City Park, corner of State and North Sts., cost is $10 per child, presented by TriCo Equestrian Center.

-1 p.m. – Downtown barricades in place.

-1 to 2:30 p.m. – Christmas Recital, Group 1, Musical Memories, 112 North State St.

-1 to 3 p.m. – Children’s Activity – Jingle Bell Obstacle Course – Geneseo Community Center, 541 East North St.

- 2 p.m. – Special Matinee – White Christmas Sing-A-Long – Central Theater, 111 North State St. – Free will donations benefit the Henry County Sheriff’s Auxiliary.

-2 to 3:30 p.m. – Live music – “The Nice List” at MIVA, performing above The Cellar at 137 South State St.

-2 to 4 p.m. – Children’s Activity – Make Reindeer Food – My Moon Creations, 104 South State St.

-2:30 to 4 p.m. – Children’s Activity – Meet Santa Claus on the front porch of the Geneseo Historical Museum, 205 South State St.

-3 to 5 p.m., - Children’s Activity – Create Reindeer Thumbprint Magnet – Free for Kids and Adults – Geneseo Art League and Gallery, 125 North State St.

-3:30 p.m. – Geneseo Middle School Swing Choir caroling – Concordia Lutheran Church, 316 South Oakwood Ave.

-3:30 to 4 p.m. – Geneseo Elementary Schools - students caroling – intersection of State & 1st Sts. in downtown Geneseo.

-3:30 to 5 p.m. – Lighted Parade Staging – Grace United Methodist Church, 318 North Center St. - Volunteers needed.

-3:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Free trolley rides between Moose Lodge and downtown Geneseo.

-4 to 4:45 p.m. – Concordia Lutheran Church Hand Bell Choir – Musical Memories, 112 North State St.

-4 to 7:30 p.m. – Civil War Re-enactors – corner of State & Second Sts. near Abraham Lincoln monument in downtown.

-4 to 8 p-.m.- Christmas Walk Market- former Four Seasons Outlet, 120 South
State St. – Presented by the Geneseo Farmers’ Market.

- 4 to 8 p.m. – Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Information Center and Christmas Card Stamping at Hanford Insurance, 119 South State St.

-4:30 to 8 p.m. – Central Bank Pavilion of Lights and Ice Sculpture Display, 200 block of North State St.

- 5 to 8 p.m. – Christmas Walk Living Windows in downtown Geneseo.

-5 to 8 p.m. – Geneseo Memorial Luminary Display in Geneseo City Park.

-5 p.m. – Lighted Parade steps off.

-5:30 – 6 p.m. – Live Music, “Geneseo Panic!” (youth rock band playing Christmas music) – Musical Memories, 112 North State St.

-5:45 p.m. (about) – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – intersection of State & Second Sts.

-6 p.m. – After tree lighting ceremony, Geneseo Community Choir performs on front porch of Geneseo Historical Museum, 205 South State St.

-6 p.m. – Geneseo High School Madrigal Singers – Central Theater, 111 North State St.

-6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Christmas Recital, Groups 2 & 3 – Musical Memories, 112 North State St.

-8 p.m. – Christmas Walk closes.

-8 p.m. – Featured Movie – Central Theater, 111 North State St.

-8 to 11 p.m. – Cosmic Bowling at Arcadia Family Fun Center – 925 South Oakwood Ave.

As guests and residents visit Geneseo during this year’s Christmas Walk, Saturday, Dec. 10, they may want to stop at the Geneseo churches to share a meal, warm up with a free hot chocolate and enjoy conversation.

The warming stations, cookie walk and meal sites are:

-3 to 7 p.m. – Cookie Walk and Baked Potato Bar and Chili Supper – Concordia Lutheran Church, 316 South Oakwood Ave.

-4 p.m. – “Smores” Station – New Life Fellowship – intersection of State and Second Sts.

-4 p.m. – Warming Station – Hot Cocoa Booth, First Congregational Church, 100 block of South State St. All proceeds benefit mission projects.

-4 p.m. – Warming Station – Free Hot Apple Cider – First Baptist Church, intersection of State and Second Sts.

-5 p.m. – Warming Station – American Family Insurance – Michele Weber-Enck Agency, 229 State St.

5 p.m. – Warming Station – Free Hot Chocolate - Geneseo Evangelical Free Church – Intersection of State and First Sts.

-4 to 7 p.m. – Meal Site – Walking Tacos, street corn and homemade desserts– First Lutheran Church, 114 East Main St.

-4 to 7 p.m. – Chili, hot dogs, hot cider, hot chocolate, desserts – First United Methodist Church, 302 North State St., free will donations accepted.

-4 to 7:30 p.m. – Meal Site – Chicken Dinner – open to the public, $12 to $16 per person – Geneseo Moose Lodge #990, 1025 South State St. – Trolley Stop!