Parade and toy giveaways bring Christmas cheer

By Editor | December 10, 2025 |

Photo by Shari Harris
Licking Pentecostal Holiness Church earned first place in the religious category with their depiction of the Polar Express.

Photo by Shari Harris
Hickory Manor took the first place ribbon in the non-religious category for the second consecutive year.

The annual downtown Licking Christmas festivities on Saturday drew people to the area throughout the day. A Christmas Bazaar, Santa at the VFW, Santa and a toy giveaway at the Licking Mill, activities at the museum and the Parade made for a full day.

Vendors at the VFW Hall offered unique handmade gifts, baked goods and more.

Photos by Shari Harris

Santa Claus got an early start at the VFW Hall and gave teddy bears, quilts and other items to the children who came to visit him.

At the historic Licking Mill, Santa had the help of Licking FFA members and his own special elf as he handed out 111 toys during the Chamber of Commerce Toy Giveaway. Jordan Boesing and Emy Skaggs received tricycles and Cole Sullins’ and Alaya Rogers’ names were drawn for bicycles at this year’s giveaway. Special thanks to the Sonic Cruise-In riders who helped Santa get all the toys assembled for the event.

Photo by Katey Wesley
Over 100 toys were handed out on Saturday at the mill.

Photos by Shari Harris

Photo by Katey Wesley
Jordan Boesing checks out the tricycle he won on Saturday.

Photo by Katey Wesley
Emy Skaggs looks like she will enjoy her tricycle.

Photo by Katey Wesley
A happy Cole Sullins is shown with the bicycle he won on Saturday.

Photo by Katey Wesley
Alaya Rogers appears equally happy with her new bicycle.

Photos by Katey Wesley

Photo by Shari Harris
Mrs. Claus was on hand to read to children at the museum Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Claus read books to children at the Museum of Art and History in the afternoon. The Museum was a busy place in the morning as well, with their Cookies by the Pound sale, art sale, and the Friends of the Library book giveaway for children.

The culmination of the day was the Christmas Parade which began making its way through downtown Licking shortly after 4 p.m. There were several floats that competed for this year’s prizes, but judges were able to narrow it down to three in the religious category and three in the non-religious group. Licking Pentecostal Holiness Church won first place with their Polar Express float in the religious category, followed by Sonshine and Rainbow Day School (with a trailer full of happy children), and third went to Boone Creek Baptist Church. The non-religious winners were: Hickory Manor first place, Wildcat Early Learning Center second place, and Licking Residential Care earned third place. Congratulations and thank you to all the entrants for making it a memorable parade for all.

Photo by Shari Harris
The second place religious float in the Licking Christmas parade was Sonshine and Rainbow Day School.

Photo by Shari Harris
The second place religious float in the Licking Christmas parade was Sonshine and Rainbow Day School.

Photo by Shari Harris
Boone Creek Baptist Church got a third place ribbon in the religious category.

Photo by Katey Wesley
Residents and staff of Licking Residential Care earned a third place ribbon for their float in the non-religious category.