Christmas Walk 2004: a community celebration

Christmas Walk has appeal for visitors of all ages

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 4, 2004

Members of the Lewiston Porter Key Club assist the GLBPA in the preparations for the Lewiston Christmas Walk by pulling 6,000 promotional inserts for distribution throughout the Greater Lewiston community. The students were treated to pizza compliments of Destino’s Pizzeria located at 3090 Creek Road. Destino’s is one of the Town of Porter’s newest businesses.

The magic of Christmas returns to Lewiston this weekend with the holding of the 37th annual Lewiston Christmas Walk -- a community celebration, unique holiday shopping experience and one truly enjoyable happening. It draws visitors from near and far to the quaint Village of Lewiston along the lower Niagara.

Presented by the Greater Lewiston Business and Professional Association with lead sponsorship by the Modern Corporation and Niagara University, numerous co-sponsors, and media co-sponsorship by Niagara Frontier Publications, Christmas Walk 2004, which continues today and tomorrow with numerous activities, promises once again to offer something special, quite literally, for visitors of all ages and tastes -- all in the old-fashioned spirit of the season.

“Our 37th annual Christmas Walk provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way,” said Sandy Hays-Mies, GLPBA executive director. “Our businesses will be dressed up in their holiday best, and there are activities and events for the entire family. The Lewiston tradition promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

Indeed it will be. This year, as it has for decades, the Village of Lewiston is again all decked out with colorful lights a-twinkling and a wonderful potpourri of holiday treats awaits.

In fact, all that is needed is a healthy Western New York snowstorm to get all into the Christmas spirit. (Hey Mother Nature, are you listening?)

A Festival of Lights which adorns Our Lady of Fatima Shrine on Swann Road, is yet another area attraction to check out in northern Niagara County, both during Lewiston’s Christmas Walk weekend as well as throughout the Christmas season. The impressive light show will be featured at the Shrine now through Jan. 2, 2005. (photo by Larry Austin)

A Weekend of Fun

• Christmas Walk 2004 officially kicked off yesterday with Lewiston’s HSBC USA Center Street branch all decked out in Christmas decor, offering holiday music, warm drinks and tasty treats for banking visitors.

“It’s HSBC’s way of saying thank you and happy holidays to everyone in greater Lewiston,” comments Janice McCaw, HSBC vice president, Lewiston branch manager and GLPBA president.

• Many of the village’s shops along the Center Street strip and on neighboring streets in the village will be offering holiday gift specials and extended Christmas hours -- until 8 p.m. on Friday, all day Saturday and selected times for various merchants on Sunday. Check individual merchants in today’s Christmas Walk pullout for specific hours.

Visitors who have grown tired of the sterile holiday experience, nagging crowds and general chaotic environment found in area malls will certainly appreciate the holiday gift offerings and enjoyable atmosphere that make Lewiston an attractive shopping alternative. From exquisite jewelry to holiday gift baskets, Christmas crafts to belly dance classes, children’s apparel to distinctive gowns and formal wear, antique and art offerings, to pet toys, sporting goods and computer needs, Lewiston’s diverse merchant community offers visitors a welcome Christmas buying experience with many choices for selective buyers.

But that’s not all of Christmas Walk. Far from it. The weekend also brings a number of very enjoyable holiday activities of appeal to visitors of all ages.

Want to Meet Santa?

• For the little ones, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will be visiting a number of locations. You can have breakfast with Santa, offered by the Village of Lewiston Recreation Department on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Red Brick Schoolhouse on North Fourth Street.

• Down the hill at Waterstreet Landing along the river there’s lunch with Santa offered on Saturday and Sunday; Mrs. Claus will greet visitors at Clark’s Burger House on Cayuga Street both days; and children will have a chance to tell their holiday wishes to Santa at the Old Time Barber Shop on Center Street this weekend.

Holiday Smorgasbord

• Throughout the village, a literal smorgasbord of holiday offerings, from open sleigh rides on Center Street to a children’s petting zoo in the Key Bank parking lot; poinsettia sales by the Lewiston-Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary at Hunt Real Estate offices on Center Street; Lewiston Boy Scout Troop 855’s Christmas tree sales at Academy Park; holiday caroling by the NU chorus at the Orange Cat on Center Street and a performance by the Lewiston First Presbyterian Church Bell Choir at Key Bank, are planned.

In addition such happenings as a Holiday Open House and Social at Old Fort Niagara plus a holiday production by the Theatre in the Mist group at Stella Niagara are scheduled both days. And street entertainment and special raffles offered by local merchants are planned at sites throughout the village and in the northern Niagara County area. (For more information on these activities, again see the special Christmas Walk pullout section in today’s paper.)

A Vintage Christmas

• Santa will brighten Lewiston’s celebrations in style at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, arriving by helicopter at Academy Park to meet children and families. From there it becomes true vintage Christmas enjoyment for young and old alike as the man in red boards his one-horse open sleigh to lead the Christmas parade down a candle lit Center Street complete with historical characters. Hay rides will be offered, and a special luminary bag display honoring cancer survivors as well as those who have lost their battle to this dreaded disease, will provide the backdrop for one impressive celebration. See the listing of the St. Peter’s Christmas Walk luminaries inside today’s Sentinel.

• At Hennepin Park, village and town officials will officially light the community Christmas tree to a holiday performance offered by students of St. Peter’s R.C. School. Following the Hennepin ceremony, visitors are invited back to the St. Peter’s parish hall on North Sixth Street for an evening of good times, refreshments and entertainment provided by the official town of Lewiston-Sanborn band.

Other Treats

• Sunday’s offerings continue with visits with Santa and his elves at many of the aforementioned village locations, plus holiday shopping and entertainment. A craft show and chowder sale will be offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day at Lewiston #1 Volunteer Fire Co., 145 N. Sixth St. A home-cooked pork roast dinner plus a mini-bazaar and Christmas concert will occur at the First Presbyterian Church on Cayuga Street. And holiday offerings such as the new Museum Shoppe and an acoustic ensemble performance at the Lewiston Historical Museum on Plain Street are planned. A visit to Festival of Lights on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine out on Swann Road is yet another way to celebrate the holiday season.

As you can see, Christmas Walk organizers at GLPBA, village merchants and Lewiston area contributors have no left no stone unturned when it comes to celebrating the Christmas holidays, and they invite visitors to come up and join in the fun.

As has been said in these pages before, people in Lewiston sure know how to put on a festival. Make it a point to join them for this weekend for a Christmas Walk to remember.

For further information, contact the GLPBA at 754-9500.