The 14th annual Winter Walk is nearly here!

A favorite event of many, it runs from 4-9 p.m. Thursday in downtown Northfield. Winter Walk engages the whole community as well as draws visitors from the surrounding area and metro. The official start to the holiday season is the tree lighting ceremony and welcome from Mayor Mary Rossing.

(The full schedule is attached as a PDF.)

Winter Walk features something appealing for all ages. The whole family will enjoy riding on horse-drawn wagons through the historic downtown aglow with holiday lights and paper luminaries. There will be reindeer sleigh rides available in front of the historic Archer House River Inn. Kids can get their photo taken with Santa or pose with the James Younger Gang at the Northfield Historical Society Museum.

Storefronts will be decked out in holiday décor and shopowners will offer warm cider, hot chocolate, holiday cookies and other seasonal treats. Many shops and businesses will have giveaways for the kids, as well as demonstrations and special discounts for the evening. All shops and businesses will stay open until 9 p.m.

In addition, there will be dance performances, caroling and musical entertainment throughout the evening.

Here are details from the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce you need to know for parking and getting around the area:

• Streets begin to close about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
• Closing will be compete by 2 p.m.
• Division Street will be closed from Second Street to Seventh Street until 9 p.m.
• If you are a downtown business or need to access downtown, please allow for extra time and patience. You may want to let your customers and staff know about the restricted parking.
• The horse and wagon route is different this year. Please see this map and practice extra safety around the horses and riders.
• Non-downtown businesses and nonprofit organizations will setup on Division Street during the afternoon.

Events to note

• Tree lighting ceremony is at 5:15 p.m. on Bridge Square.
• The official start of the Winter Walk Middle School choirs begin at 5 p.m.
• Luminaries will illuminate three bridges and an expanded area of downtown starting at 3 p.m.
• Horse-drawn carriage rides will have expanded routes with pick-up/drop-offs in front of the Rueb 'n' Stein and Community Resource Bank.   

See previous Patch coverage of Winter Walk

• PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Northfield Winter Walk 2011
• PHOTOS: Downtown Northfield is Ready for Winter Walk
• Winter Walk Hidden Ornament Found
• Northfield's Downtown Bustles During Winter Walk
• VIDEO: Winter Walk in Northfield
• Northfield's Winter Walk Offers Plenty

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