That Holiday Spirit

Spend the afternoon with the German Village Christmas Walk and enjoy the holidays!

For the last 31 years, the people of the German Village and the German Village Historic Association have been sharing their homes, their community, and their love for Hamilton through the Christmas Walk. “We’ve been around for a long, long time. It basically started out as a way to showcase the architecture and our homes. When it started it was very, very small, having some homes and businesses open for people to see the homes and how people have restored them. Then we started having horse drawn carriages, face paintings, and live music” Sheryl Silber, this year’s Christmas Walk Chairman explained. The goal is to share Hamilton’s German Heritage with everyone through home tours, food trucks, and various vendors. 

This year, there are 10 properties in German Village officially a part of the tour, showcasing their history and stories. The Cincinnati Type and Print Museum is providing passports for those doing the tour to get stamps at each house they visit. The activities aren’t just focused on the kids, there will be homemade candles, handblown glass making, live music, and homegrown crafts throughout the 9 blocks of German Village. 

Why should you visit the Christmas Walk? “I think that when you walk into the German Village, you feel it. And you can’t describe it necessarily but it’s there. You have this unique feeling that like ‘I am a part of something here’. That’s what the Village is striving for.” said Silbers. 

Can’t get enough of German Heritage and the Christmas Spirit? You can find more of both at the Christkindlmarkt. Since 2013, the Christkindlmarkt has been a great way to kick-off the Christmas season while focusing on Hamilton’s German Heritage. This year, the Chriskindlmarkt will be held at the Butler County fairgrounds. Dig into rich German Desserts like strudel and cream puffs, browse unique homemade gifts or something for yourself! The market prides itself on not allowing vendors with repeat items or direct market sales so when buying from a vendor, you’re buying something that is unique and handcrafted.