by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph 2018 Winterwalk, which will be Friday, Nov. 30, will combine old traditions with new changes this year.
The St. Joseph Y2K Lions will be taking over the annual event that was started by Margy Hughes and the St. Joseph Action Group and continues to grow each year.
“The Y2K Lions were excited to have been asked by the St. Jo(seph) Action group to take over the wonderful community activity,” said St. Joseph Y2K president Kay Lemke. “We look forward to the challenge presented to us as a new project.”
Other changes this year include the location and size of the tree. A taller tree, almost 25 feet, will be inside the fence at the southwest corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue on the St. Joseph catholic church parish grounds.
In the past, tree-lighting of a smaller tree, has taken place on the Bello Cucina patio.
Many special guests have helped light past years’ trees. This year’s special guest is St. Joseph resident Judy Meemken, who will light the tree at 6 p.m.
Music and caroling will help add to the merriment of the festivities and luminaries will help light the way for passers-by.
Indoor activities will take place in the warmth of the Heritage Hall Parish Center at 12 W. Minnesota St. A light meal will be served beginning at 4 p.m. and an Arts and Crafts Sale will take place from 4-8 p.m.
Santa will visit from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to hear children’s Christmas wishes and hand out treat bags.
Craft-making activities will also take place during this time and participants will be able to make and take home their crafts.
Refreshments will be served amid music from the St. John’s Prep School music students and some sing-along tunes will be performed on the piano by church musician David Orzechowski.
The tree-lighting event has been taking place since 2010 and Winterwalk has been taking place since 2014. Many volunteers and businesses working together annually have helped make the event possible.
If interested in volunteering or donating to the event, contact St. Joseph Y2K member Becky Staneart at 320-420-3373.
Vendors/crafters wishing to reserve a table at the Arts and Crafts Sale can contact Sandy at the church at 320-363-7505 ext. 120 or visit the website churchstjoseph.org.
The event is sponsored by the Community Winterwalk, St. Joseph Y2K Lions and Church of St. Joseph, St. Joseph.
This year’s annual Winterwalk event will be Friday, Nov. 30, and will include some new changes. While past trees, such as this one, have been on the Bello Cucina patio, this year’s tree will be inside the fence at the southwest corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue on the Church of St. Joseph Catholic Church parish grounds.
Event organizers from the 2013 tree-lighting event included (from left to right) Kayla Meyer, Mrs. Claus Lisa Wallin, Margy Hughes, Santa Steve Nelson, Living Tree Mike McDonald, Sr. Thomasette OSB, Kathy Engholm, Ellen Wahlstrom and Travis Moore.
