Christmas Walk the best yet

A look back at Lewiston’s Christmas Walk

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 10, 2005

Area residents and visitors partake in the Christmas Walk on Center Street. (Larry Austin photo)

How can Santa Claus afford to make and deliver toys to children all over the world?

One word: Volume!

In that spirit, Christmas Walk in the Village of Lewiston provided local merchants with a volume of shoppers, and visitors to Lewiston were treated to no fewer than 10 village businesses holding grand openings, while another dozen businesses provided raffles and giveaways in addition to their usual offerings.

Melissa Morinello of the Lower River Region Chamber of Commerce said this year’s added tour of historic homes brought in additional patrons to Lewiston. The tour included the Barton Hill Mansion, the Lasher House on Onondaga Street, the Lane House on Cayuga Street, and the Hauth Home and Peter House on South Fourth Street.

Mayor Richard Soluri told the crowd gathered for Saturday night’s tree lighting ceremony in Hennepin Park that this year’s Christmas Walk was the best attended in the past 12 seasons. Saturday and Sunday of the event featured the walk down Center Street, headed by Santa himself, Frosty the Snowman and reigning Peach Queen Diana Virtuoso.

Santa joins Peach Queen Diane Virtuoso and Frosty the Snowman in greeting Christmas Walk visitors. The trio rode at the head of the parade from Academy Park to Hennepin Park along Center Street. (Larry Austin photo)	Santa Claus is greeted like a rock star by children who assembled at Academy Park where he landed by helicopter. (Larry Austin photo)
Village Mayor Richard Soluri sits in a stylists chair at D’Amore Salon and Day Spa, 705 Center St., which held its ribbon cutting grand opening during Christmas Walk. Joining him in the photo are (front to back) Mara Palermo, owner, and stylists Jocelyn Carpenter and William Beyer. (Larry Austin photo)	Scouts Robert Paul, front, and Patrick Teixeira from Boy Scout Troop 855 carry a customer’s tree to the car at Academy Park during the Scout’s annual sale. (Larry Austin photo)
Carriage rides, provided by Hartland carriage were a popular attraction at last weekend’s Lewiston Christmas Walk (Larry Austin photo)	The Lewiston Porter Intermediate School choir entertained Christmas Walkers on Center Street. (Larry Austin photo)
Area children had the opportunity to make gingerbread houses during Christmas Walk at HSBC Bank on Center Street. (Larry Austin photo)