Christmas Walk Set To Start Holiday Season In Geneva

GENEVA, IL — Every year on the first Friday of December, Geneva has a tradition of hosting a Christmas walk. Holiday cheer will fill the streets of Geneva Dec. 3 as the event returns to the city after it was canceled last year due to COVID-19 concerns.

"Amongst the twinkling lights and fresh greenery lined streets, chestnuts are roasting over open fires, carolers are filling the night with seasonal favorites, a traditional candy cane pull is close by, a recreation of the Guinness Record breaking candy cane will be available for all to enjoy and a live nativity scene is taking place," reads a Geneva Chamber of Commerce news release.

Visitors can expect the traditional events at the Christmas Walk. The Bob's Candy Cane Parade — named in honor of Graham's Fine Chocolates' founder Bob Untiedt — will kick off the celebrations Friday evening. The parade will be led by more than 100 bell-ringing customers who will present the first candy cane of the season to Mayor Kevin Burns, officials said in the release Monday.

Following the parade, Santa Lucia will be offering Swedish cookies to Christmas Walk guests, who can also view the tree-lighting ceremony and show outside the Kane County Courthouse, located at 100 S. Third St. As the light show takes place, visitors can wait to see Santa Claus arrive atop the Geneva History Museum, across the street from the courthouse.

Children will then have a chance to visit Santa — by reservation — in his new Geneva home at Geneva Visitor Center, at 10 S. Third St., which will be transformed into a winter wonderland. His previous mobile home on James Street is being retired due to "great disrepair." Pieces that could be salvaged from it were donated to organizations that build homes for people in need, according to the news release.

To make up for the canceled event in 2020, the Christmas Walk was prolonged to take place over several weekends in December. Each weekend featured a different holiday festivity, including chestnuts roasting, caroling, visits with Santa and horse-drawn carriage rides, Kane County Connects reported.

Reservations to visit Santa can be made on the Chamber of Commerce's website starting Nov. 1.

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