How to go
What: 24th annual German Village Christmas Walk
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6
Where: Hamilton’s German Village Historic District — Dayton, Linden, Village, Second and Third streets. The German Village is a nine-block square area.
Cost: Free. There is no charge for the carriage rides, entertainment or for going through the private homes and historic businesses.
Thousands of locals will gather to celebrate the holiday season on Sunday, Dec. 6, for the 24th annual German Village Christmas Walk, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. The day will be filled with holiday-themed activities including food, crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, musicians, reindeer and some of Hamilton’s finest historic homes and businesses, which will be decorated during the festivities and open to the public.
Another major highlight this year will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Third Street Plaza at 11:30 a.m.
Ann Dennett, chairman of the German Village Christmas Walk said that Hamilton Mayor Patrick Moeller, City Manager Joshua Smith and German Village Representative Craig Wilks will officiate the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.
“There will be several groups performing at the Plaza during this year’s Christmas Walk. This will also enable the village to be able use the Third Street Plaza for a number of different events, entertainment and music. It will really give us an opportunity to do more,” Dennett said.
We have a lot of neat things going on this year, and it will be nice to have the Plaza open, she said.
“I’m excited about the Plaza opening up. It’s a great place to read, after you get a good book from the library. It will be nice to use the area for functions, festivals, and for all of the community,” added Debby Ripperger, president, German Village Association, Inc.
Starting at noon, visitors will have an opportunity to take a nostalgic look at Christmas by touring private homes, businesses and the historical buildings, including the Lane Hooven House, St. Julie Billiart Catholic Parish, Butler County Historical Museum, Lane Public Library, Butler County United Way and The William C. Wilks Carriage House, among others, which will all sparkle with Victorian décor.
Among this year’s highlights, horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from noon to 5 p.m., and Yuletide Brass, a quartet of strolling musicians in Dickens-era attire, will perform on the streets from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Butler Tech theater students in Victorian attire will recite “The Night Before Christmas” at 3:30 p.m. St. Julie Billiart Catholic Parish will offer tours from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. At the YWCA, there will be a bake sale presented by St. Julie Altar Rosary Society and a craft show featuring local artisans from noon to 5 p.m. Donuts by Tweedles will be for sale on the Carriage House patio. Homes at 342 N. Second St. and 350 N. Second St. will also be open.
Additional live entertainment will be featured at several locations, including Celtic Aire at the YWCA from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fingerstyle Guitarist Dave Sams will perform at the Lane Hooven House from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Treva Boardman will entertain guests from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Emma Ritchie Auditorium. Gerhard Albinus will be at The William C. Wilks Carriage House from noon to 5 p.m. Guests won’t want to miss Joyful Noise from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Butler County Historical Museum.
St. Julie Billiart Catholic Parish will host a concert, “Scripture and Songs of the Season,” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., featuring members of the adult choir and children’s choir.
Children’s activities will include the reindeer and a petting zoo on Linden Street (between Second and Third Streets) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Santa Claus will be greeting children in the Emma Ritchie Auditorium at the Butler County Historical Society from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Kids will also enjoy Olaf-inspired crafts and face painting at Lane Public Library from noon to 4 p.m., or a visit with the “Snow Sisters,” Elsa and Anna, at the library, strolling the Plaza and at other Third Street businesses.
“It’s such a festive, holiday atmosphere with the horse-drawn carriages going through the neighborhood. It’s about seeing the smiles on everybody’s faces,” Ripperger said
A group of philanthropy students from the Hamilton Community Foundation will be on hand to greet guests, provide directions and pass out flyers with a map and a complete schedule of events.
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