German Village Christmas Walk has new activities for 20th year

How to go

What: 20th Annual Christmas Walk

When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Where: Hamilton’s German Village

Cost: Free

HAMILTON — When Hamilton’s German Village celebrates the holidays with its 20th annual Christmas Walk, you can tell which homes and business are participating by the four-foot toy soldiers standing guard.

That’s not the only thing new. According to organizers Ann Dennett and Debby Ripperger, there will be a potter and a weaver setting up in the former Hamilton Safety Council building at 350 N. Third Street and the Liberty Home Association, Hamilton’s German society, will serve apple and cherry strudel in the Carriage House, 131 Village St., while Gerhard Albinus performs German carols and other Christmas favorites on the accordion.

Ripperger, who runs the Village Seamstress, said that she’ll be serving baked goods flavored with lavender.

Those attractions complement some things that have been part of the Christmas Walk for nearly all of its 20 years, such as the free horse-drawn carriage rides by the Fliehman Carriage Company and the strolling Yuletide Brass in Dickens-era attire.

In all, there will be activities in 26 different locations, something for everyone in the family, Ripperger said.

Children’s activities include origami art by Fitton Center instructor Aimee Edwards at the Friends on Third Salon, a petting zoo from Serendipity Farms and live reindeer from Whitetail Acres and Deer Farm on Linden Street, face-painting and a marionette show at the YWCA, and balloon sculptures from the Balloon Guy at Mirrors Salon.

“I think this is one of the neatest events the city has,” Dennett said. “And except for some of the food for purchase or the crafts if you want to buy something, everything is free.”

“It showcases one of the oldest parts of the city,” Ripperger said. “It really reflects Hamilton’s heritage and what there is to do in Hamilton.

“It’s a unique event and you can’t do it all in five hours.”

Brochures with a map and a complete schedule of events is available at participating German Village businesses.