Life & Work with Kassie Okolish of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassie Okolish.

Hi Kassie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Barberton Christmas Walk began in 1998 as a way to bring the community together and kick off the holiday season. Held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it has become a beloved holiday tradition in Barberton. When Small Business Saturday launched in 2010, it gave the event an additional boost and helped shine an even brighter spotlight on our local businesses.

In 2019, the event entered a transitional period as responsibility shifted between two organizations. Brent Watkins and I stepped in to assist the new group. We had both owned businesses in town for years and had always participated in the Christmas Walk, so the event—and its success—meant a great deal to us.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans, the transition ultimately didn’t work out. Rather than let such a meaningful community tradition fade away, Brent and I decided to take it on ourselves. We established the Barberton Christmas Walk as a nonprofit organization and, with the help of our dedicated board members and volunteers—without whom none of this would be possible—we have continued to grow and expand the event every year since.

Today, the Christmas Walk offers a full day of free, family-friendly activities. Thanks to all of our generous sponsors, families can receive free photos with Santa, while costumed characters bring excitement throughout the day. The event also features the Barberton Christmas Market with local vendors, trolley rides around Lake Anna, book readings with Mrs. Claus, crafts at the library, and specials from downtown businesses.

As darkness falls, we “Light the Lake,” illuminating the area with Christmas lights and decorations. It’s one of the most magical moments of the event and a wonderful way to celebrate the season together. The list of activities continues to grow every year, but our purpose remains the same: to create lasting holiday memories, support our local businesses, and celebrate the community spirit that makes Barberton special.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is ever completely smooth when you take on an event of this scale. Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 people across 22 blocks of our downtown, so there are countless details to coordinate behind the scenes.
One of the biggest challenges for me personally has been accepting that there is always something new to learn. Every year brings new lessons and opportunities to find better, more efficient ways of doing things. While that learning curve can be challenging, it has also helped us strengthen and improve the event.
Funding was another major obstacle, especially in the beginning. We started with zero dollars and relied on the generosity and belief of our sponsors. Thanks to their incredible support, we have been able to keep the Christmas Walk moving forward—and make it bigger and better each year.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My mother has owned her own company for 38 years, and 12 years ago, we expanded the business by adding an apparel and printing division called Barberton Local Tees. She recognized that many small, locally owned businesses needed branded apparel but were often required to purchase large quantities. This frequently left them with unused sizes and inventory they couldn’t sell. She wanted to provide a more personalized option that allowed businesses to order exactly what they needed.
With her years of business experience and my background in retail, we worked together to build Barberton Local Tees into what it is today. What sets us apart is our personal approach—we take the time to understand our customers and provide products that truly fit their needs.
I’m especially proud of the relationships we formed while operating our storefront. Many of our customers became genuine friends, and those connections remain one of the most meaningful parts of our journey. I also love bringing Barberton’s history back to life through our designs and giving people a way to celebrate our town and its stories through the items we create.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
In many ways, every day of planning the Christmas Walk involves taking a risk. Taking responsibility for the event was a major leap of faith, especially because we had to inspire others to believe in its potential as strongly as we did.
Every decision brings uncertainty: Will people enjoy what we’ve created? Will they attend? Will our sponsors be happy with the results? Organizing an event for an entire community—especially one designed for local children and families—is an enormous responsibility.
One of our biggest commitments was deciding that every activity at the Christmas Walk should be free. We want families to enjoy the holiday season together without the added burden of worrying about the cost. Making that possible requires us to take financial and creative risks, trust our vision, and rely on the generosity of our sponsors.
For me, the greatest risk would be falling short of creating an experience that families truly love and remember. Our goal is to create magical moments that become treasured traditions—and that goal is worth taking risks for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bwalk.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbertonchristmas