By: Dylan Bowman, HAHS Board Member
December 12, 2023
The Grand Return
As the winds turned bitter with the arrival of winter, bells, ever so lightly ringing, could again be heard descending from the highest points of Peter's Mountain. Many people looked out their windows with gleeful anticipation. Others with sweat on their brows. They grew louder and clearer until, with a triumphant entrance, the Belsnickel again made his way into the town of Halifax, PA, where the community was readying themselves for the day of reckoning.
With the Halifax Area Historical Society at the helm, the Halifax Youth Center was transformed into a place of holiday magic once more. Christmas tunes rolled over the Valley from the loudspeakers there, Christmas lights were strung, a large assortment of food was served, 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, a new hot chocolate stand with three unique holiday blends was introduced by the Historical Society, providing steaming cups of high-quality (and I MEAN high-quality) hot chocolate to warm visitors' bodies and souls.
As they had last year, many vendors attended the recently-established "Belsnickel Market Village" at which a dozen community members set up stands to sell their unique and hand-crafted wares.
The time had come again.
Justice had returned.
The festivities of the Halifax Belsnickel Parade and Festival begin. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
The Parade
Unlike in recent years past, the Belsnickel's arrival brought with him colder and sharper winds than had been felt in early December for some time. Many reveled in the bliss of a Belsnickel Parade & Festival that actually felt like winter (and thus Christmas). I was one of those folks. It is a Christmas festival after all...it should be cold, not lukewarm and muddy. However, the cold kept many others away, resulting in a reduced number of bodies at the event when compared to the incredible numbers of last year.
This could be noticed in the smaller parade participant attendance, of which was half the scale of the planned entourage. But the Christmas Spirit is a never-dying flame, and Halifax, at least in my mind, is of that same great stock that gives the "small town America" a good name. HUNDREDS of individuals still lined the sidewalks and participated in the parade, spreading cheer (and fear from the Belsnickel when needed) to all those in the community who came out.
The parade moved through the streets, spreading the festivities to the center of town as the public looked on with cheerful eyes and grins on their faces. Local fire departments and other organizations, individual groups and businesses including Friends of Fort Halifax, DST Insurance, 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, with a bag of treats and a switch in hand, also walked the streets in the parade, questioning onlookers. "Had they been impish or admirable?" I saw more corrections of behavior than last year, and laughter arose from admirable onlookers as justice was served to the less-disciplined.
The community looks on as the Halifax Belsnickel Parade makes its way through town. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
The Festival
Despite the sudden drop in parade attendance due to the weather, the Belsnickel Market Village and festival was beyond healthy, having to expand into the Halifax Veterans Memorial Park pavilion for more space. 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 and hot chocolate station, 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, play of the 50/50 raffle, enjoy the children's craft and face painting and, of course, dine on some delicious homemade pastries.
As the crowds 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. Children continued to play in the fields and park nearby and families, with bags of candy and handmade goodies, walked to their cars and homes, filled with the joy of the Christmas season. Though the year was of a lighter turnout due to the cold, winter weather, the Christmas Spirit was no less bright at the event, especially in the children, some of whom had come from 40+ miles away to meet the Belsnickel they had heard so much about.
That was a joy 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 2025, 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 22nd Annual Parade & Festival the greatest one yet!
The festivities of the Halifax Belsnickel Parade and Festival continue. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.
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