by Dennis Dalman
Food, drinks, kid crafts, Santa and a tree-lighting ceremony will be featured during the 10th annual JoeTown WinterWalk Festival Dec. 2-3 in downtown St. Joseph. The festivities will take place from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.
The free event includes a time for children to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on the Bello Cucina patio, a tree-lighting ceremony on the St. Joseph Parish lawn (7 p.m. Friday), live music at Krewe restaurant, ornament-making for kids in Heritage Hall, live music and Avon Hills Folks School craft-making at Bad Habit Brewing, live music and hot chocolate at Jupiter Moon Ice Cream, free chair massages and candy canes at Exponential Chiropractic, and more, all in downtown St. Joseph.
Businesses will be selling sambusas (a Somali savory snack) at Flour & Flower, hot chocolate at Jupiter Moon, a special JoeTown WinterWalk Festival beer at Bad Habit Brewing, arts and crafts at Heritage Hall, and more.
JoeTown WinterWalk Festival started as a tree-lighting ceremony in December 2012 by the St. Joseph Action Group, and later the Y2K Lions Club grew it into a bigger festival event involving local businesses. In 2022, JoeTown WinterWalk Festival formed a board and incorporated as a Minnesota 501c3 nonprofit organization.
“JoeTown WinterWalk Festival is all volunteer-led,” said Marshall Herron, co-chair of the festival board. “We appreciate volunteers at all levels and strive to give them a rewarding and fun volunteer experience.”
Raj Chaphalkar, co-chair of the board, said WinterWalk is a good way to show and to experience all the best qualities of living in St. Joseph.
“St. Jo(seph) is an example of what makes Central Minnesota a great place to live,” he said. “The warmth, charm, and dramatic growth of St. Jo(seph) are inspiring. The streets are full and the town is bustling with energy. JoeTown WinterWalk Festival is our celebration of the entire community.”
