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Rockton Christmas Walk reflected on 40 years while making new lifelong memories
MARIANNE MUELLER PHOTO The Herald
Adeline, Winston and Wyatt visited with Santa during the Rockton Lions Club Breakfast on Saturday morning.
Sounds of the season were heard in the Village of Rockton Dec. 6-8 as the 40th annual Christmas walk welcomed thousands of visitors throughout the weekend’s festivities.
Tricia Diduch took the reins in her ninth year at the event Chair.
Friday night the community gathered at Settlers Park to listen to the Willowbrook Middle School choir sing traditional Christmas carols blended with catchy, upbeat tunes.
Following the caroling TV anchor Mark Henderson started everyone off in a 10-second countdown to lighting the up Settlers Park,.
Friday night was full of fun including a concert by Dueling Pianos who played and performed a variety of songs.
Many donned ugly sweaters and joined in a pub crawl.
Honoring history was at the forefront of this year’s event. In both Settlers Park and the Village Green Park a full history of the Rockton Christmas Walk was on display.
On Saturday morning a nice, steady crowd gathered at the American Center to have breakfast with Santa. After it was announced that Santa was entering the room, smiles ran across everyone’s face, especially young ones.
Buckets n Blooms on N. Blackhawk is offering a 3D printed ornament with any purchase.
Bake sales, Christmas decor, and crafts were found at different locations, including the first ever Main Street Market where more original goods offered great gift buying options.
Talcott Free Library drew book lovers or those looking for a gift for a reader on their list to a sale of gently used books, DVDs and miscellaneous items.
In Settlers Park, miniature horses from the lighted parade, Atreyu from Kaleidoscope, Mr. from Fair Light, and Indy from Mare’s Place, all from Stillman Valley were joined by Becca from Rocking Pony Ranch in Rockford. Each of them was there with their owner.
Santa made his next stop in the warm and cozy environment of the Rockton Village Hall where he listened to wishes of all ages.
Letters to Santa were written at Edward Jones Financial Advisor Brenda Brugger’s office. Once letters were ready, they were dropped in a box outside the office.
Horse drawn carriage rides offered the perfect way to see all of the sights.
Students from Whitman Post Elementary School brightened the day by sharing their talented voices in Christmas carols.
The River City Sound Chorus Sweet Adelines hit the right notes of harmonies and melody at After the Vine.
In Sugar Britches and Jill Rae Finally Art, the Rockford Barbershop Chorus brought Christmas Cheer.
Imaginations ran wild at Jill Rae Finally Art with the creation of Make and Take Chubby Bird ornaments, made out of paper mache.
Saturday evening started off with a lively ceremony at the Village Green Park. Wayne Wieser and a group of friends teamed up as a quartet to join in signing a variety of Christmas favorites. A young visitor joined them in playing bells. Many were singing along on different numbers.
Katie Cronin oversaw decorating of the Village Green Park with a strong volunteer base, through the Our Town Committee in 1987.
Village President John Peterson said a few words before the Cronin family was introduced. Katie Cronin’s grandson Adam and his fiance Carin who got engaged at last year’s Christmas Walk joined in reading Katie’s poem leading to the lighting of Katie’s Tree that was lovingly decorated by family members.
A countdown revealed a beautifully decorated Village Green Park.
As spectators lined the streets beautiful scenes and spectacularly decorated floats rolled down Main Street in the 2024 Lighted parade, which lasted almost an hour.
The parade started with the Rockton American Legion Post #332, who met with respectful applause. Youth organizations, businesses, local media, and candy or other fun items being handed out or tossed from floats, and fire trucks.
This year’s Grand Marshal sponsor was Benchmark Exteriors.
Following the parade is the Wimpy’s Fund Auction at the Rockton American Legion.
Numerous baskets filled tables along with raffle prizes to take a chance on. Music and wine pulls added to the fun of the live auction along with their energetic Masters of Ceremony Jodi May and Twwinky.
Another bidding option was online bidding prior to the live auction.
All money that is raised from the Auction goes to help local families have a brighter Christmas season as the Rockton Lions Club gives toys, food and clothes to families who need an extra boost of Christmas cheer.
The 7th annual hot cocoa crawl returned on Sunday. This year, ticket holders received a 12 oz. hot beverage tumbler with a lid to use for the cocoa crawl and anywhere they need it in the future.
Visitors followed up to seven clues on the doors of local businesses, which led them to their final destination of Settlers Park, where cards showing that participants finished were collected and returned to the Rockton Village Hall in exchange for a prize.
This year’s prizes were magnets or a commemorative ornament. Candy, and candy canes were also given out as a bonus.
Christmas at Macktown featured time honored traditions and more on Sunday afternoon. Horse drawn carriage rides took guests to the historic sites, ornament making in the Whitman house, visiting the Whitman Store to see what people in the 1800’s would have purchased as gifts, Making toys with a woodworker in the Stephens Carpenter Shop, and stopping into the Mack House,
Wayne and event organizer Diana Wieser, along with the Martin, Meichtry and Weldon families warmly welcomed everyone into their homes on the second “Historic Homes for the Holidays” tour.
Each place garnered great interest as visitors to all of the locations took in something unique. The Martin residence, above DeeDee’s Coffee and Décor, is charming, inviting and comfortable.
Outside the Weldon home are interesting decorations including old-fashion style red pajamas and denim overalls. It is the oldest brick house in Rockton, which was built in 1839. Inside the home is a warm environment full of vintage style items, and loads of charm.
The Weiser-Phelps house has stunning lead glass bay windows and many built in features.
The Meichtry home is the ultimate in Victorian style. In each room were notes describing part of the room that stand out. As a nice touch Christmas tunes were played on a piano.
Refreshments, a wine tasting and wassail were enjoyed at different places.
Special Thanks to Parks and Recreation Director Don Self, the Public Works Department, the Village of Rockton, Rockton Police Department and all of the volunteers who helped with the event.
The 40th Annual Christmas Walk carried out long time traditions as they reflected on years of past walks, while keeping things fresh and new.
