ROCHELLE – Rochelle’s annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Walk downtown is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m.

The event, which is sponsored by the Downtown Rochelle Association with funding assistance from the City of Rochelle, will feature many family-friendly events throughout the evening. Some activities include a visit with Santa at the Flagg Township Museum, carriage rides, photo opportunities with Elsa and Olaf at city hall and the annual Lighted Christmas Parade on Lincoln Highway at 5:30 p.m.

There is also a new attraction this year, sure to please adults and children alike.

“New this year will be reindeer at Terri Schafer State Farm,” explained Jenny Thompson, director of marketing, public relations and tourism for Rochelle. “This is something we have been trying to get for the last few years.”
Each of the downtown businesses will have something festive set up.

Other activities scheduled for the evening include Christmas at the Library, lighting of the community tree at city hall and food provided by Ralfie’s BBQ, pork chops made by the Rochelle Fire Department, food served at the Hub City Senior Center and a chili supper sponsored by the Rochelle Eastern Star at the Rochelle Masonic Lodge.

There are also many other businesses and organizations not located downtown that will be set up and participating in the event.

While this is evening is meant for people to get out, enjoy the downtown area and check out the local businesses, the main goal is for families to come together and experience an old-fashioned Christmas.

“We do this event to bring families downtown to enjoy an old fashioned classic Christmas celebration while stopping into our local businesses to check out how you can do some of your holiday shopping locally,” said Thompson.