Licking County residents bundled up nice and cozy for the 40th anniversary of the Christmas Candlelight Walking Tour in Granville on Saturday, Dec. 6. The festivities included holiday treats and crafts from local vendors, musical and choral performances, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, stocking stuffing, gingerbread house and tree decorating contests and horse and carriage rides through the village.

Around the village

  • Patti Smith drove her horse and carriage from 1 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
  • Xenia and Lindsay pull the horse and carriage through Granville.
  • Weathervane Kettlecorn owners, Kevin and Kathy Rose. The Roses have been selling popcorn for 15 years. They used to have a popcorn shop where Whit’s Frozen Custard is currently located. Now, Weathervane Kettlecorn is a pop-up shop, selling popcorn in Granville, Newark, Johnstown, Columbus and Buckeye Lake. “I love the Candlelight Walking Tour and anything Christmas,” said Kevin Rose.
  • Actors dressed like Olaf (from the movie Frozen) and Cinderella greet guests at Huntington National Bank during the Candlelight Walking Tour.
  • Granville Kiwanis service members Jennifer Lewis, Gail Venrick and Ken Cation. Granville Kiwanis is a collection of volunteers dedicated to helping children all over the world. They’ve been making syrup since 1971, tapping their own trees, collecting the sap and bottling it all themselves. All proceeds support their community and children’s projects. Since inception they have produced nearly 4,600 gallons of syrup and raised $400,000 for Granville’s community and youth programs.
  • Fred Abraham and Kathy Tatham are volunteers for the Presbyterian Church’s Salvation Army Christmas donation bucket.

At the Robbins Hunter Museum

  • People wait to enter the Robbins Hunter Museum during the Candlelight Walking Tour.
  • The first tree visitors saw at the Robbins Hunter Museum was a tree covered in Ohio symbols like tomatoes — the state fruit.
  • The Spelman Medicine Tree celebrates the history of the second occupants of the Robbins Hunter Museum. Three years after Alfred Avery built the home in 1842, he sold it to his cousin Sylvester Spelman, a local doctor.
  • One of the trees at the Robbins Hunter Museum was adorned in traditional symbols, flags and ornaments from the 1870s.
  • Pushpin ornaments were all the rage in the 1960s.
  • One tree at the Robbins Hunter Museum was adorned in “bubble lights,” an ornament from the 1950s that look like candles.
  • The final tree at the Robbins Hunter Museum was adorned in “indent ornaments” that were designed to catch light.
  • The Granville Recreation District hosts an annual gingerbread house competition, and visitors to the Robbins Hunter Museum can vote on their favorites.
  • The Granville Recreation District hosts an annual gingerbread house competition, and visitors to the Robbins Hunter Museum can vote on their favorites.
  • The Granville Recreation District hosts an annual gingerbread house competition, and visitors to the Robbins Hunter Museum can vote on their favorites.
  • The Granville Recreation District hosts an annual gingerbread house competition, and visitors to the Robbins Hunter Museum can vote on their favorites.

At the Granville Public Library

  • Kids met Santa Claus at the Granville Public Library.
  • Stephanie Anthony and Kim Gatwood, program assistants in the children’s department for Granville Public Library. “I really like Christmas in Granville; it’s a fun way to see everyone out, it’s festive, and everyone’s happy,” said Anthony.
  • The Granville Public Library hosted several events during the candlelight walking tour, and showcased ornate lego Christmas Village displays.