More than 1,000 people turned out for the Kimmswick Christmas Open House and Parade on Nov. 20, which kicked off the town’s Christmas festivities, said Betteane Smith, one of the organizers.
“This was probably our best parade and open house that we ever had,” said Smith, president of the Kimmswick Merchants Association, which sponsors the town’s Christmas events. “We have never seen so many families lined up along the streets for the parade. Santa had a line the entire day, and the tree-lighting probably had the largest attendance ever, with about 400 people. It was a beautiful day."
The apex of Kimmswick’s Christmas season – the annual Christmas Festival and Cookie Walk – will be held Friday through Sunday (Dec. 3-5).
Cookie Walk tickets sold out Nov. 16, but those who didn’t score one still have plenty to enjoy during the festival, which also will include visits with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and caroling, Smith said.
“The festival is the peak weekend for Holiday shopping,” she said. “I think people enjoy the small-town feel of Kimmswick, the friendly shop owners, unique things you can find and the great restaurants. I think it is a great experience that gets people into the holiday spirit.”
Cookie Walk ticket holders can get a head start on collecting the sweet treats from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Dec. 2) at 24 participating businesses. Cookie Walk participants may turn in their tickets at the Kimmswick Visitors Center, 314 Market St., to receive the holiday cookbook, gift bag and map to participating businesses.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Attendees may take their own photos with Santa near the Visitors Center from 3-7 p.m. Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Carriage rides will be available from 2-8 p.m. Saturday. It costs $5 per person to take a carriage ride, but children 3 and younger may ride for free.
The festival also will feature members of the Canaan Baptist Church of Oakville selling hot chocolate with the proceeds benefiting the Visitors Center, and the Kimmswick Historical Society will provide tours at the Burgess-How House.
The town also will be lit with luminaries.
The Christmas spirit will continue in Kimmswick the following two weekends, when Elf on the Shelf events return for a fourth year.
Children are invited to the town to search for one of Santa’s favorite helpers at participating businesses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 11-12) and again Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 18-19). Tickets cost $10, and children will receive a gift bag, activity book and guidebook to participating businesses.
“They go from business to business and try to find the elf in the business,” Smith said. “The merchants typically reward the child with a treat for finding the elf.”
Children also may donate a new, unwrapped toy when picking up their Elf on the Shelf supplies at the Visitors Center to receive a $5 gift card that can be used at participating businesses. The donated toys will be distributed to area families.
For more information about Elf on the Shelf tickets, call 636-464-6464.
Smith said the merchants association had a successful Deer Widow’s Weekend on Nov. 12-14. She said the organization collected about $1,400 to donate to the city of Kimmswick Relief Fund and two carloads of food items to donate to Sister Christine’s Food Pantry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Imperial and the Jefferson County Rescue Mission in Pevely.