WEST CHESTER TWP. — A visit from St. Nick is just around the corner in West Chester as residents gear up for another holiday season.
The Olde West Chester Christmas Walk, holiday parade and Christmas tree lighting festival will start at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Olde West Chester business district, along Cincinnati Dayton Road east of Interstate 75.
The event will involve multiple family-friendly activities and open houses provided by the businesses in the Olde West Chester Area.
“This is going to be the biggest Christmas Walk ever,” said Jan Arents, owner of the Village Spa and member of the Merchants of Olde West Chester. Arents said the Christmas Walk has a lengthy history in West Chester and in the past few years had grown and improved.
Among the highlights of this year’s event are free photos with Santa at Book Bums; live reindeer at “Santa’s Elf Village;” a bouncy house; petting zoo; pony rides; live music; vendor tents to help with holiday shopping; caricature drawings and more.
Author William Powers will be on hand to sign his new book “New Blue Zoo” and also do a story time with kids.
West Chester Presbyterian Church will host a cookie tour as well.
The merchants will also host a bake sale to benefit local charity “Alicia’s Lungs.”
The event will culminate with the annual West Chester Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. down Cincinnati Dayton Road, concluding with the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of the Township Administration Building, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.
The parade will begin at the Union Day School. The theme of the parade this year is “The Spirit of Service.”.
Those interested in marching in the holiday parade can contact Laura Groff at (513) 759-7312.