‘Christmas begins in Barberton’ with walk

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KASSIE OKOLISH

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  Just how big is the city’s kickoff to the holidays?

If you have dozens of businesses and organizations participating, plus 70 vendors selling a wide variety of wares and food items, add to that more than 45 volunteers pulling it off, consider the committee that plans year-round, and literally throw in about 5,000-fluffy-artificial-snowballs – that’s big.

Kassie Okolish, executive director of the board for the Barberton Christmas Walk, has visions of sugarplums dancing in her head 12 months of the year.

“I think about Christmas Walk every day,” Okolish admits with a smile and explains how the wheels in her mind are constantly turning as she spots things that prompt ideas while she’s working at her store downtown, or in her travels. 

“Christmas begins in Barberton” is the motto she has attached to the Barberton Christmas Walk and with all the activities and plans for the last day of the month in the city – it seems like an appropriate theme.

“It’s honestly the kickoff to all the holiday stuff,” Okolish said. “I hope they experience the magic of Barberton.”

Treasured traditions are returning to the 2024 Barberton Christmas Walk 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 in and around downtown including pictures with Santa Claus, the lighting ceremony at Lake Anna gazebo, costumed characters, Royal Court, business specials, dozens of vendors, activities and crafts, choirs and carolers, fun selfie spots, hot cocoa offerings nearly everywhere you turn – and the popular massive snowball fight area, which is more about fluffy and less about cold.

The Barberton Christmas Walk basically stretches from St. Augustine Church to the Diamond Match Party Center and includes Lake Anna Park. The Christmas Market is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. More than double the number of last year’s vendors are spread out across four locations: The Venue at Al’s, 151 Second St. NW, White Rabbit Galleries and Lake Anna Hall downtown, and Diamond Match Party Center, 8 Fourth St.

Also, 10 vendors will have food trucks that will be placed around town. 

The Christmas Walk is 2 to 8 p.m. and includes all the family-friendly activities. Favorite costumed characters are coming to town and some will be roaming while others will visit with fans and take photos such as Star Wars characters, the Grinch and movie princesses.

Okolish admits that organizers have “gone crazy” with expanding the snowball fight section in response to how much everyone enjoyed it last year. Look for a well-lit 20-foot-by-30-foot area blocked off near the city building and the library and enjoy a safe snowball fight with 5,000 fluffy “snowballs.”

“It was such a hit last year,” she said. “We enjoyed watching all the kids with it and even the adults participated.”

Local churches, the Barberton Public Library, and other organizations are involved and have activities, refreshments, games and crafts planned 2-8 p.m. Magic City Kiwanis has the annual tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Lake Anna Gazebo with lights installed around the lake thanks to Barberton Parks and Recreation.  

Thanks to sponsors, donations and organizations and individuals involved, children’s games, crafts, treats and more are free.

“We are very thankful to all of our sponsors because we are able to make the events free because of those,” Okolish said.  

Sylvart Studios offers photos with Santa Claus as usual at a greatly discounted price. The location has changed this year and Santa photos will be at Lake 8 Movies, 588 W Tuscarawas Ave. Also, glow sticks will be for sale for anyone to light up the night.

“Our goal is every year to build on what we did the year before to make it bigger and bigger and bigger,” she said. “It’s a big production. It’s a lot of fun.”

After children have had their fill and it’s time to return home after a fun-filled day, adults can toast each other and the holidays with the popular Christmas Crawl 7-10 p.m. Okolish said she has heard of out-of-towners planning their visit to town to make sure it incorporates the Christmas Walk and the Christmas Crawl. This year, Magic Pedal Company will give free bike rides for the Christmas Crawl 7-10 p.m.

After Thanksgiving and following Black Friday, the 2024 Barberton Christmas Walk lands on the perfect day: Shop Small Saturday. Local businesses can have fun decorating, promote their offerings, and offer deals. Meanwhile residents, visitors and shoppers can pick up gifts and get ideas at stores and by visiting vendors. 

Okolish owns Barberton Local Tees (B.L.T.) with her mom, Kim. The Christmas Walk has 501c3 status and can accept charitable donations. The nonprofit organization is not affiliated with Main Street Barberton or any other entity. The board has about a dozen members. Since Okolish and Brent Watkins, owner of Sylvart Studios with his wife, Teri Ann, have led the Christmas Walk board the past few years the event has grown remarkably.

“Let’s go big with this,” Okolish remembers telling Watkins when they took over. And they ran with it.

“We have included different things because it’s also Shop Small Saturday that day,” Okolish said. “We wanted to incorporate that and we wanted to bring some different things into town. We have been building it for the last three years … It has tripled in size from what we started off with. We’ve changed it up a little making it an all day event.”

Okolish enjoys event and party planning and has fond memories of the Christmas Walk growing up. Barberton Local Tees also has been involved for about 12 years. 

“I remember the event from when I was younger,” she said. “It is one of the busiest days of the year for us. It is such an integral part of Barberton.”

  Visit “Barberton Christmas Walk” on Facebook for updates and more information.