Celebrate Christmas in the Village

40th annual Lewiston Christmas Walk Dec. 1 and 2

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, November 24, 2007

The historic Village of Lewiston will once again be filled with the sounds of sleigh bells and the smell of evergreens the first weekend of December. The Lower Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will host the 40th annual Lewiston Christmas in the Village on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2, along Center Street and throughout the quaint community.

“This event has been a favorite annual tradition of Lewiston residents and visitors alike for the past 40 years, and each and every year it has continued to grow,” commented Sandy (Hays) Mies, president of the Chamber of Commerce. “In addition to the variety of activities planned throughout the village, many of Lewiston’s unique shops and unique boutiques will offer extended hours and holiday treats for shoppers hoping to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone on their list.”

New this year is a life-size wine bar. Western New York sculptors Steve Guagliardi and Joseph Lezama will carve a 7-foot ice bar off site and feature it in front of the Village Vineyard and Wine Tours located at 476 Center St. The Niagara Wine Trail USA is the sponsor of this exhibit and is offering complimentary wine tasting Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon. Participating wineries include Vizcarra Vineyards, Eveningside Vineyards, Niagara Landing Wine Cellars, Schulze Vineyards and Winery, Freedom Run Winery, the Winery at Marjim Manor, Leonard Oakes Estates, Spring Lake Winery, Honeymoon Winery, Warm Lake Estate and the Village Wine Tours. Ice carving demonstrations will also take place on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Niagara and Center streets.

Throughout the weekend, Lewiston’s quaint shops, restaurants and businesses will serve warm beverages and refreshments. Hartland Carriages will be offering complimentary horse-drawn rides on both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Compliments of First Niagara Bank, the carriages will leave from the bank located at the corner of North Fifth and Center streets.

Get the children in the holiday spirit by stopping by the 15th annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Workshop on Saturday, between 1 and 3 p.m., in the Red Brick Municipal Building Gym at North Fourth and Onondaga streets. Or stop by the Music School of Niagara’s soup tent in the parking lot of Hunt Real Estate – featuring soups donated by Water Street Landing, the Village Bake Shoppe, Casa Antica, Carmelo’s and the Brickyard BBQ and Pub – with proceeds benefiting the organization. And don’t forget about the jolly old elf himself – Santa will return to Lewiston’s Academy Park by helicopter on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with the help of Rainbow Air and The Brickyard.

Gloria Baker, branch manager of Lewiston’s First Niagara Bank, is this year’s event chairwoman. Event sponsors include Modern Corporation, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center, Niagara University, First Niagara Bank and Niagara Frontier Publications.

Also back for another year is the Tour of Homes, presented by the Historical Association of Lewiston, featuring some of the area’s most beloved homes decorated for the holidays. For more information on this year’s tour and participating homes, call the Historical Association at 754-4214 or visit www.historiclewiston.org.

For a complete list of all events and activities taking place during the weekend, stop by any Lewiston business. For more information on the Christmas Walk, and a complete schedule of events taking place throughout the Lower Niagara River Region, call 754-9500 or visit www.northofthefalls.com.