“The Olde West Chester Christmas Walk is a cherished, decades-old tradition in our community,” said Jan Arents, an event organizer with the Merchants of Olde West Chester and owner of The Village Spa.
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The event typically takes place the second weekend in November, but Arents said out of respect and support for the community’s military veterans and their service to the country, it was decided to move this year’s event back a week. Veteran’s Day falls on Nov. 11 (the second Saturday of November).
Stretching from just south of VFW Post 7696 all the way to the West Chester Road intersection, there will be holiday-inspired activities everywhere. Families are invited to arrive as early as 2 p.m. for photos with Santa at Dentistry Details, 8735 Cincinnati Dayton Road. Activities also include kids’ games and crafts, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, horse-and-wagon rides, food and beverage vendors, holiday music and more.
“We have a fun passport system that takes kids to special stops all over the event where they can receive stamps for completing certain achievements. Kids who fill up their passport with stamps can redeem it for a prize,” Arents said.
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Festive passport stops include places like the “Elf Village,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Christmas Town,” the “North Pole” Gazebo, and the West Chester Fire Department open house. The West Chester Fire Department will welcome families from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fire Headquarters, 9119 Cincinnati Dayton Road.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season – cooking, cleaning, planning, hosting, shopping, wrapping presents. That’s not what the Olde West Chester Christmas Walk is about. We hope guests enjoy a relatively stress-free evening full of holiday spirit in the comfort of friends, family and neighbors,” Arents said.
The traditional holiday parade begins at 7 p.m. and goes south from the Boys & Girls Club of West Chester & Liberty, 8735 Cincinnati Dayton Road, to the West Chester Township Administration Building, 9113 Cincinnati Dayton Road, for a community tree lighting around 8 p.m.
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Motorists should expect this portion of Cincinnati Dayton Road to be closed through Olde West Chester from approximately 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Former West Chester Township Administrator Judi Boyko, who resigned in August to accept a position with Hamilton County, returns to the community to serve as parade Grand Marshal. Boyko began her career with West Chester in 1992 as Township Planner before being promoted to Administrator in 2005.
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