Winchester Winter Village in Old Town

In this episode of 'The Valley Today,' hosted by Janet Michael, it's Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition. Janet speaks with Justin Kerns from the Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau, who provides exciting details about the upcoming Winchester Winter Village event happening in Old Town Winchester during the first weekend of December. The conversation begins with a trip down memory lane, recounting the inception of the Winchester Winter Village. Justin recalls how the idea sprouted in mid-2023 and took much planning and collaboration with local stakeholders, business owners, and the community to bring this whimsical event to life. The goal was to create a vibrant Christmas town atmosphere that would not only boost the local economy but also extend festive cheer throughout December. Justin provides insight into the event's structure, emphasizing its community-owned nature and the careful curation of vendors to complement local brick-and-mortar stores. He mentions the Kinder Village setup, which includes activities for children, Santa, and the Grinch, and lots of free family-friendly fun. Highlighting some of last year's successes, Justin mentions the overwhelmingly positive response from both the vendors and the community. The conversation touches on food offerings, including the popular cheesecake vendor and the introduction of German foods by Billy Sous food truck. Justin also shares logistical aspects like the free horse and cart rides, new gift-wrapping stations, festive lights, and more musicians and carolers this year. There are also strategically selected high-quality vendors offering unique, locally crafted items. In terms of event logistics, Janet and Justin discuss the new layout for the village vendors, aiming to create a more spacious and accessible experience. Important dates and times include the Friday evening Santa Crawl, the vendor village running from Friday to Sunday, and a series of special musical performances over the weekend. Janet adds personal anecdotes about her experience at last year's event, praising the unique and high-quality merchandise and encouraging listeners to buy what they love when they see it to avoid missing out.  The episode also touches on additional festive activities in the area, such as the PHW holiday house tour, Abrams Delight candlelight tour, concerts, and the downtown Christmas parade, ensuring there's a full slate of activities for visitors and locals alike. Find a full list of holiday events here: https://visitwinchesterva.com/events/