The Downtown Merchants and the Oliver Street Merchants recently announced the Lumber City Winter Walk will take place at various local businesses and community centers in North Tonawanda from 10-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The Lumber City Winter Walk will feature over 40 family friendly events throughout the day, primarily around Oliver and Webster streets. A free bus shuttle will take attendees to various stops throughout the city to easily access the events.
Shuttle stops will be marked with a large snowflake. Stop locations include:
•Corner of Goundry and Webster streets.
•Corner of Tremont and Webster streets.
•The Railroad Museum.
•Corner of Oliver and Schenck streets.
•The Herschell Carousel Factory Museum.
•The Old Chapel Antique and Artisan Market on Robinson Street.
The Lumber City Winter Walk showcases a collaboration between the Downtown Merchants and the Oliver Street Merchants to celebrate small businesses city-wide, and to strengthen the community as a whole. After months of planning this effort, the merchants are thrilled to celebrate the holiday season with new and exciting events and old favorites from past winter walks.
The "Santa's Workshop" themed winter walk will feature dozens of activities for children, including free pony rides, a petting zoo, fire truck rides, breakfast and meet and greets with Santa, magic shows and chances to win prizes. Children will also be able to express their creative side by making their own ornaments, writing letters to Santa, face painting and more.
There will be plenty to do for adults as well. Local businesses will feature special discounts on holiday gifts throughout the day.
The popular Christmas trailer, complete with holiday characters and decorations, will follow the shuttle stops to spread holiday cheer and collect canned goods for the North Tonawanda Food Pantry. Attendees are welcome to bring non-perishables for the trailer.
There is something for everyone at the Lumber City Winter Walk and families can make their way out to North Tonawanda to come together as a community to celebrate the holidays, support local businesses and have fun.
Thanks were extended to sponsors:
Gold Sponsors: Ascension Industries Inc., Austin Tylec, Canal Club 62, Downtown Merchants Association of NT, Hartwood Real Estate - Peter Gfroerer, Nicastro Accounting Services, Oliver Street Merchants Association, Project Pride, Legislator Randy Brandt and Wattengel Funeral Home.
Silver Sponsors: Second Ward Alderwoman Donna Braun, Edward Smolinski, Eric A. Herbert, Lumber City Development Corp., Niagara County Legislator Richard Andres, Alderman Robert E. Pecoraro and Laura N. Pecoraro and New York state Assemblyman Robin Schimminger.
For an up-to-date list of events and information, one can visit lumbercitywinterwalk.com.
The following is a schedule of events for the day:
First United Methodist Church - Tremont and
Main streets
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Visit with Santa.
2-4 p.m. - Mrs. Claus storyteller.
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Crafts for kids.
The Boardroom - 74 Webster St.
2-4 p.m. - Jimmy the Elf (face painting and balloon animals).
All day- $1 and lunch specials.
Buffalo Suzuki Strings - 4 Webster St.
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Open house and bake sale.
2 p.m. - Concert.
Canalside Wine & Spirits - 14 Webster St.
All day- Wine and spirit tasting, specials, balloon twister for kids.
Carnegie Art Center - 240 Goundry St.
2-4 p.m. - Buffalo Ukulele performance (free).
Christmas Trailer and Caroling - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Collecting canned goods for the NT Food Pantry - follows shuttle stops. Canned goods can also be dropped at local participating merchants.
Crazy Jakes - 26 Webster St.
1-2 p.m. - Visit by NT K-9 "Hammer."
10 a.m. and noon - Free magic show by A.J. McLaughlin (two shows).
All day -- Make and take gingerbread house (benefits Habitat for Humanity (fee applies)).
The Flavor Factory - 31 Webster St.
All day - Open house.
Gleam & Glimmer Stained Glass Studio - 34 Webster St.
All day - Pick a candy cane sale, gift certificate specials and refreshments.
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum - 180 Thompson St.
Noon-3 p.m. - Santa on the carrousel; admission required.
Hip Gypsy - 78 Webster St.
All day - 20 percent off regular priced items and cookies for guests.
Hizair Salon - 85 Webster St.
All day - Free customized Santa hats (One per person) while supplies last.
Lou's Restaurant - 73 Webster St.
All day - Drawing for a Lou's gift certificate.
Louie's Texas Red Hots - 18 Webster St.
All day - Buy one hot dog get the second one free.
Martinsville Soapworks - 88 Webster St.
All day - Come celebrate the fifth anniversary.
Matt's Music - 937 Oliver St.
All day - Caroling on Oliver Street.
Michele's Motif Boutique - 72 Webster St.
All day - Free gift with a purchase.
North Tonawanda Senior Center - 110 Goundry St.
All day - Santa workshop for kids, gifts for $1, free giftwrap, craft and bake sale, and free cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and tea.
Not 2 Shabby - 287 Oliver St.
Noon-3 p.m. - Hot chocolate bar (no cost). Paint a ceramic figure ($4 per child, while supplies last).
The Old Chapel Antique & Artisan Market - 172 Robinson St.
One year anniversary celebration.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Free picture with Santa Claus by photographer Dennis Reed Jr. (One free photo per child).
Noon - 3 p.m. - Live Christmas pipe organ performance.
Orange Brick Cafe will feature "Winter Walk" eggnog specials.
Partners In Art - 79 Webster St.
All day - Open house with treats.
Project 308 Gallery - 308 Oliver St.
1-5 p.m. - "Under $100" exhibition where all the artwork costs $100 or less.
4-6 p.m. - Make your own tree ornaments. Pre-registration is required: Call 523-0068.
Pulp 716: Coffee & Comics - 31 Webster St.
All day - Single issue comic books buy one get one and free candy canes.
Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier -
11 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Operate model trains, visit caboose, railroad films, cookies, hot chocolate. Free Pony Rides from Lakeside Animal Sanctuary all day.
River Art Gallery & Gifts - 83 Webster St.
All day - Open house.
Sherwood Florist - 458 Oliver St.
All day - Open house with refreshments.
Spiritually Rooted - 90 Webster St.
All day - Mini reading 50 percent off; and hot cider and baked goods.
Sticky Face BBQ - 276 Oliver St.
All day - Coloring contest for kids, free hot chocolate with kids meal (no cost), dessert and dinner entrée.
Sweeney Hose Company No. 7 - Downtown area
All day - Free antique fire truck rides
Treasure Market - 38 Webster St.
All day - Punch and cookies.
Walker Bros. & Monroe Jewelers - 84 Webster St.
All day - Open house with one day only specials.
Wattengel Funeral Home parking lot - 307 Oliver St.
11 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Free petting zoo from Lakeside Animal Sanctuary.
Webster's Bistro - 102 Webster St.
11 a.m.- 3 p.m. - Lunch.
3-5 p.m. - $5 cocktail and food menu.
Witter's Sports Bar - 300 Oliver St.
9-11 a.m. - Breakfast with Santa.
Yummy Thai - 92 Webster St.
All day - Food tasting and gift card drawing.