PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HOLIDAY HELPERS … Three festive friends make their way down Main Street, bringing plenty of Christmas joy.
CHRISTMAS RIDE … The Delta Fire Department carries Santa through downtown as part of the annual Winterfest parade.
CANDY TOSS … Holiday treats come flying as a young rider enthusiastically shares candy with the crowd.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Families filled downtown Delta on Saturday, December 6th, as the village came together for its third annual Winterfest celebration.
The event, organized by the Delta Chamber of Commerce, ran from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and featured an afternoon of activities leading up to the community Christmas parade.
Winterfest began with children meeting Santa for photos between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., a window designed to ensure families had time to visit before he “returned to the North Pole,” as organizers reminded visitors.
Local small businesses and organizations set up inside Memorial Hall and Giver’s Hall, offering free activities and games for kids while also providing space for holiday shopping.
Chamber Administrative Assistant Dustyn Rivera said these requirements help keep the event fun and interactive for children as they wait to see Santa, while also giving businesses a chance to engage directly with the community.
Festive music and holiday treats added to the atmosphere, with hot dogs, hot cocoa, and cookies available throughout the afternoon.
Coffee Depot and Delta 109 took part in providing refreshments, joining other participating businesses that help support Winterfest each year.
Outdoor decorations surrounded the downtown corridor, including the village Christmas tree and displays near Giver’s Hall that created a central gathering area for families.
A reading of The Night Before Christmas took place as part of the afternoon schedule, continuing a tradition that has become a hallmark of Winterfest since it began in 2023.
Rivera, experiencing her first Winterfest as a chamber staff member, said organizing the event offered a meaningful look at how deeply the community supports local traditions.
“As someone who is not originally from Ohio, it is really nice to see how Delta comes together,” she said.
“Everyone was very excited for Winterfest, and we saw a lot of interest from families online. I enjoyed working on it behind the scenes and was really looking forward to seeing it all come together.”
The day moved into its evening portion with the lighting ceremony at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Christmas parade at 6:00 p.m.
Rivera said the parade featured roughly sixteen entries this year, giving residents one more reason to gather downtown as the event came to a close.
With mild weather, strong attendance, and another full schedule of activities, Winterfest once again provided a festive start to the holiday season in Delta.