Mill Lighting marks beginning of holiday season

By Editor | December 4, 2024 |

Photo by Shari Harris
Over thirty people gathered to sing carols with Santa and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies on a frosty Saturday evening.

By Shari Harris, Publisher

The lighting of the historic Licking Mill Saturday evening marked the beginning of the holiday season in the community. Around three dozen people braved the cold evening to gather on Mill Street and sing carols with Santa Claus. Then a brief countdown led to the flipping of switches and Christmas lights beamed from around the windows and across the lawn of the Mill. Afterward, the Jolly Old Elf visited with children and posed for pictures inside the Mill.

Some toured all three floors of the historic building, each of which was decorated this year by the Licking FFA Chapter. After a chilly lighting ceremony, a warmup was enjoyed by many, with hot cocoa and cookies being served next door this year, at Rock House Designs & Creamery.

The Mill Lighting is held the week before the downtown Saturday events in Licking. Saturday, December 7, will be the big day, beginning at 9 a.m. with a Christmas Bazaar at the VFW Hall. Special lunch items will be offered at the VFW Hall and at Abounding Hope Church, where chili, soups, hot dogs and baked goods will be offered from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Texas County Museum of Art & History and the Book Nook will be a busy place as well. Cookie donations will be accepted from 9:30 – 10 a.m., then their “Cookies by the Pound” sale begins at 10 a.m. until the cookies are gone! The museum also has unique gift ideas from local artisans. The Book Nook/Friends of the Library will have a book giveaway, with children receiving a free new book. They will also hold their giant book sale. It’s time to stock up on reading material for the winter, because after Saturday they will be closed until spring.

Santa will come to the VFW Hall at 11 a.m. and visit with children until 12:30 p.m. Bring your cameras to capture that special moment. The sign up location for the toy giveaway will be at the front of the Santa line at the VFW Hall.

At 1:30 p.m., the toy giveaway at the Mill will begin. Santa and a few helpers from the Licking Chamber of Commerce and Licking FFA will hand out toys to children on the porch of the mill.

Mrs. Claus will be found at the museum while Santa is busy at the mill. She will be reading to and visiting with children at the museum from 2 until 4 p.m.

The parade, themed “Christmas Treats,” will begin at 4 p.m. Lineup is at 3 p.m. at Licking High School parking lot. Look for Viola Bailie as grand marshal – she just celebrated her 100th birthday!

As of the time the newspaper went to print, the National Weather Service was predicting 52-53 degrees and mostly sunny for Saturday, so get out and enjoy the day while attending all the festivities in downtown Licking.