BELSNICKEL IS BACK! 22nd Parade & Festival A COLLOSAL SUCCESS!!

halifaxpahistory
Dec 10, 2025
3 min read

By: Dylan Bowman, HAHS Board Member

December 10, 2025

All Eyes on the Mountain

Eyes turned to the mountain on December 6th, as all in the Halifax region knew that the Belsnickel was again descending to their town...and bringing with him, judgement.

With the Halifax Area Historical Society at the helm, the Halifax Youth Center was again transformed into a place of holiday magic. Christmas tunes rolled over the Valley from the loudspeakers there, Christmas lights were strung, and a bonfire was built and maintained by local Cub Scout Pack 156 and Boy Scout Troop 1165, around which dozens of children and adults alike roasted marshmallows to create the Historical Society's culinary sensation: "Belsnickel Bites."

Additionally, four renowned food trucks of the Central PA region joined the ranks of the event's festivities, allowing for less strain on the HAHS volunteers while simultaneously giving visitors an assortment of AMAZING food options.

As they had in the past three years, many vendors attended the recently-established "Belsnickel Market Village" at which nearly a dozen community members set up stands to sell their unique and hand-crafted wares.

It is the most wonderful time of year once again. Unless, of course, you are impish.

Visitors enjoy the Halifax Belsnickel Parade & Festival with family and friends. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.

The Parade

Though the year's circumstances dictated a smaller parade than in recent years, with fewer participants, the community turned out in full to show their support for those involved in the march through the heart of town.

The parade moved through the streets, spreading the festivities and holiday cheer as it went. The local Halifax fire department and other organizations, individual groups and businesses including Friends of Fort Halifax, DST Insurance, Cub Scout Pack 156, and Girl Scout Troops 11300, 11305, and 11570 were to be seen walking, driving, and dancing in the parade and throwing candy and goodies to bystanders, decked out in all their holiday garb.

And of course, the Belsnickel himself, switch in hand and candy at the ready, also walked the streets in the parade, questioning onlookers. To this viewer, it always seems that the children are better behaved than their parents, who are often corrected publicly by the Belsnickel's ever-ready tool of enforcement.

The community looks on as the Halifax Belsnickel Parade makes its way through town. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.

The Festival

Despite the smaller parade, the Belsnickel Market Village and festival was EXPLODING with life. And the weather couldn't have been more perfect for a Christmas festival; about 40 degrees, but with the sun shining, no wind, and even the magic of a few snow flakes falling at one point in the late-morning, it was like a winter wonderland incarnate.

Vendors talked with visitors and sold arts and crafts as hot chocolate and HAHS merch and memorabilia were sold in high quantity. All the while, heaters, strategically stationed around the Market Village, gave the soft warm glow of heat to those not around the bonfire.

Around it's peak approximately an hour or so after the end of the parade, latecomers and community folk came to the Youth Center to partake in the feasting of food from the amazing new food trucks in attendance, play of the 50/50 raffle, enjoy the children's craft and face painting and, of course converse with the Belsnickel, who roamed the area, rewarding and punishing as necessary. And the CROWDS! Countless hundreds (perhaps thousands) came to experience the holiday magic of the Belsnickel Festival and enjoy time with family, friends, and neighbors.

As people enjoyed their food and fun, HAHS member Carol Stoneroad read the "Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas" by Chet Williamson, a tradition long-held by the Halifax Area Historical Society. A short time later, HAHS President, Ryan Bowman, presented the history of the Belsnickel, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), Krampus, and Christmas in European and American history, fascinating all of those within ear-shot of the tales told.

As the exclusive Belsnickel Yule Log played inside with Christmas lights strung, the festivities continued on until the fire turned to embers and the vendors packed up what little merchandise they had left. It was very clear that this year had brought out a whole new collection of families and individuals looking to kick off their holiday season with some good old-fashioned community spirit.

As always, it warms the heart to see.

If you missed out on the parade or festival this past weekend, no worries; we will be right back here on the first Saturday in December 2026, rain, snow, or shine! If you have any questions about the parade and festival, becoming a vendor, or how to get involved, feel free to contact us anytime. We can't wait to see you there and make the 23rd Annual Parade & Festival the greatest one yet!