Manchester Celebrates Holidays with Annual Window Walk

Marking 35th Year for Beloved Community Event

Janelle Tucker December 2, 2022Last Updated: December 2, 2022

1 minute read

The Manchester community celebrated the holidays Thursday night with the Chamber’s Annual Window Walk.

Over the past 35 years, it’s become a tradition – with live window scenes in downtown businesses, old fashioned horse & carriage rides and the sounds of carolers and Christmas music filling the downtown streets.

And in recent years, the Static Christmas Parade has become part of the event, with around a dozen floats and vehicles lit up in Christmas lights parked up and down East Main and South Franklin Streets – even the Manchester Fire Department’s ladder truck gets dressed up for the occasion each year.

Local groups were handing out chili, cookies, S’mores and hot chocolate – and you could even stop by Castle Theatre for a free bag of popcorn. Manager Kristy Davis told KMCH News Director Janelle Tucker that they were keeping busy.

If you looked closely through the storefront windows, you could spot the Grinch taking photos with the kids and the Elf on a Shelf waving at you as you walked by. And as always, there was a long line to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Business owner Kurt Heims was excited to be part of the event this year. His custom engraving business, Heims Awards, made the move downtown this summer – right in the heart of all the Window Walk action.

And as a Chamber board member and Manchester native, Heims understands what this tradition means to the community.

Chamber Director Dave Wakefield told KMCH’s Justin Roberts that the night couldn’t have gone any better.

If you have any ideas to share for next year’s Window Walk, reach out to Dave at the Manchester Chamber at 927-4141.

And congratulations to this year’s winners of the Static Christmas Parade! Henderson Products won first place, the Delaware County Ministerial Association took second and Georgen Auto received third. Everyone who attended the stationary parade last night was invited to vote for their favorite float with dollar bills and spare change – and those three received the most donations. Nearly $285 was raised, with all the money going to Operation Santa Claus.