Geneva’s Christmas Walk, Aurora Christkindlmarket among local holiday traditions

Tradition fuels the joy of the holiday season, whether it is within our homes, churches, or community festivals and holiday parades.

We are hoping for good weather on Friday, Dec. 5, as Geneva’s Christmas Walk is high on our traditions list.

The festivities along Third Street in downtown Geneva always bring out the best in holiday spirit, and it has now become an event that the grandkids look forward to.

For those who enjoy holiday marketplaces, especially with a German flair, a trip to Aurora’s RiverEdge Park to check out the Christkindlmarket 2025 would be in order.

Not many other places will come up with German treats like warm potato pancakes, Bavarian pretzels and schnitzel, as well as hot chocolate, German beer and wine.

The market is open through Dec. 24, opening at 11 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, with closing hours at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays. It does close at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 23. It is open Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The ‘Walk’ book sale

The Geneva Public Library has set its Christmas Walk Book Sale to coincide with a lot of people being around the downtown area this weekend for holiday festivities.

The book sale is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

A couple of things you should know about the weekend sale: There is an entry fee of $5 for sale only from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 5. In addition, all books are half-price on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Books cost between $2 or $1 for adult books, and $1 or 50 cents for children’s books.

More animal stuff

Reader Sally Gange tells me an item in my column last year alerted her about taking old newspapers to the Anderson Humane drop-off locations for the shelter to use them for the bottom of its kennels.

In turn, she tells me she learned Anderson also takes cardboard rolls from toilet paper, paper towels and plastic wrap. In addition, they take the small boxes that items like Jell-O, cake mixes, Kleenex and other items come in.

“They let the pets play with them,” Gange noted. “Who knew?”

Helpful text messages

Our phones ding with any number of text messages, including those asking to fill out surveys, letting us know our automatic bill payment was completed, or when a needed service provider is on the way to our house.

As another leaf pickup season was coming to a close, it had me dreaming about how great it would be if text messages alerted us to when the leaf vacuum was expected in our neighborhood, maybe one with a 24-hour notice and another with an hour notice.

City websites show maps of the different pickup zones and expected dates for service. They also tell you the obvious: this can all change if the weather doesn’t cooperate or equipment breaks down.

The maps are easy to navigate for some, but likely ignored by those who don’t spend a lot of time online or aren’t adept at making their way through different links or scrolling digital maps.

In turn, text alerts may also be useless for many people. But those who prefer not to put mounds of leaves on their lawns several days before expected service, only to see the piles sit for another week or more and leave a lawn looking terrible, would benefit.

Now, is this something to really fret over? Of course not. We’re lucky to have leaf pickup service, and these folks do a nice job that helps us avoid bagging and tagging as many as 50 or more bags each fall. And, of course, some say to just let the leaves decompose on your lawns. I’m not one of those guys.

Many people just put the leaves out near the curb and don’t think much about when they actually might be removed. Yet, technology allows many different services or retailers to bury us with text messages. A text telling me the leaf sucker is heading my way soon would be quite helpful.

dheun@sbcglobal.net