The air is crisp, streets adorned with holiday greens
Strolling downtown, so much to be seen
Shops are open, ready to greet
Restaurants are preparing yummy treats
Santa, carriage rides, lightly fallen snow
Holidays in Geneva are quite a show
Yuletide cheer is filling the air as Geneva gets decked out for the holidays. Chamber elves have been excitedly preparing for the House Tour on Dec. 7 and 8 and Christmas Walk the evening of Dec. 7.
During the House Tour, five exquisite homes aglow with holiday decorations will open to visitors for self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8. The personality of each home will illuminate when local decorators and landscapers work with homeowners to create holiday magic. The decorators are All Chocolate Kitchen, bb interiors, Celebration Design of Gibby’s Wine Den, Heinz Brothers Greenhouse, Neri Landscape, Plandscape, Scentimental Gardens, The Mossy Twig and The Pure Gardener.
You will not only enjoy the architecture, but also the unique collections and interior design, which reveal the personalities of the families residing in the homes. And the homes are spectacular this year!
Tickets may be purchased at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce office and several locations around town. Call 630-232-6060 or visit www.genevachamber.com for information about the house tour. A Holiday Tea at the First Congregational Church in Geneva is included in the $30 ticket. Proceeds of the House Tour are used to decorate Geneva for the holiday season.
We are looking for volunteers to help with the House Tour. Guiding visitors through homes for a couple of hours will get you a House Tour ticket, and your name will be entered in a raffle for a $50 Geneva gift certificate. Call the chamber if interested.
The Christmas Walk on Dec. 7 is a festive Geneva tradition. Celebrating our Swedish heritage, Santa Lucia will arrive at 6 p.m. with her attendants by horse-drawn carriage and will offer Swedish cookies to the crowd. Then, all will be ho, ho, hoping to catch a glimpse of the jolly old elf arriving for his Geneva stay.
The honor of lighting 4,000 lights on the 50-foot tree goes to Mayor Kevin Burns, who then receives the Graham’s Fine Chocolates first candy cane of the season, complete with trumpeters, drummers and bell ringers. Finally, Santa’s home will open for children to tell their wishes to him and Mrs. Claus.
Downtown magic continues Dec. 8. Dazzling window displays brimming with gift ideas will invite shoppers to stroll through shops, and delicious restaurant aromas will entice hungry shoppers in. At 7 p.m., Chef Roby will stretch a 40-foot candy cane on Third Street, in front of the courthouse, in an attempt to obtain another Guinness World Record.
Visit www.genevachamber.com for all the holiday happenings.
• Laura Rush is communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at lrush@genevachamber.com.
