A carriage ride through Geneva with Santa
On Friday, hundreds of people will crowd the area near the Kane County Courthouse for Geneva's traditional Christmas Walk. They'll await the arrival of Santa Lucia and -- more importantly for most people, especially the kids -- the appearance of that big guy in red, Santa Claus.
If the people in the crowd are excited, just imagine those fortunate souls who have been lucky enough to join St. Nick on his Clausian duties in past years.
"It was just fabulous," reminisced Marsha Reinecke of Geneva. Her daughter Gracie, along with friends Mackenzie Carroll and Tyler Estes, all sixth-graders at the time, accompanied Santa last December for his big gig on Third Street.
The chance to ride with Santa has for several years been a popular item in the Geneva Academic Foundation's annual fundraising auction. The event is courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual Christmas Walk.
So, for the past several years, lucky winners have been an integral part of the Christmas Walk. In general, the children reconnoiter with Santa before the Walk, talk with him, ride with him in his horse-drawn carriage and stand on the stage with the mayor and other dignitaries before the lighting of the Great Tree.
Gracie Reinecke called last year's ride great fun, even though the evening didn't go quite as expected. A heavy snowstorm that day grounded the horse-drawn carriage, and they all walked with Santa instead.
"Walking through the crowds was a lot of fun," Gracie said.
They all got to stand on the stage and then got to sing carols with Santa, she said.
But according to Gracie, the best part was visiting with Santa before the parade: "That was a lot of fun."
Did the Walk help start the season off on a great foot? I asked. "Definitely," Gracie answered..
Mom Marsha called it magical. "It was just really special," she said.
There were some fears that walking with Santa, instead of traveling in style in the horse-drawn carriage, would prove a letdown.
"It wasn't disappointing at all," Marsha Reinecke said. "That's what I thought was so incredible. It's not about the sled, it's about him. It was an incredibly special experience."
The Kanute family of Geneva also experienced the magic of the moment, with their ride several years ago.
"It was really fun," remembered Eileen Kanute. "It ended up being an awesome thing. They still talk about it." The pictures of them with Santa at the Walk even became their Christmas picture that year.
"It was everything you'd think it would be."
At the time, sons Joshua, Ben and Nicholas were all under 10 and firmly in the Santa zone. "It was so perfect," she said.
Youngest son Nicholas enjoyed riding down the street and waving at the crowds, he said. "And I remember going down the street later and people offering us some kind of nut," he remembered. (That would be the chestnuts that traditionally roast on an open fire, as the song croons.)
"It was really great." he said.
The Reinecke-Carroll group experienced the change in plans, in walking instead of riding in the carriage. Likewise, the Kanute family had a very minor glitch, in that Santa was a little delayed in arriving at the meeting place.
"He was a little late because of traffic. That was a little hard to explain to the kids," Eileen laughed, remembering how the boys wondered how a guy who rides in a sleigh in the sky could possibly be hindered by something so mundane as traffic.
"It ended up being magical," she said.
Magic is in store again this year. Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season, and her attendants will arrive at the Courthouse by carriage at 6 p.m., offering Swedish cookies to the crowds. Then Santa -- and this year's lucky auction winners -- will make his appearance to light the Great Tree and open his Gingerbread House at 6:30 p.m.
Shops and restaurants will be open, and those participating can enjoy the roasting chestnuts, strolling carolers, fresh-made candy canes and hot cider.
The weekend will also feature tours of five decorated homes, including, coincidentally, the Reinecke home. The House Tour will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. House Tour tickets are $28 in advance and $30 if purchased on the day of the event. The price also includes a raffle ticket, a traditional tea at the Congregational Church in Geneva and a keepsake booklet filled with decorating and entertaining ideas.
For more information on the event, contact the Chamber office at 630-232-6060, or visit http://www.genevachamber.com/christmaswalk.html.
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