A Gingerbread‐Sweet Night in Colby: Annual Christmas Light Parade Shines on Franklin Ave

Colby’s holiday spirit was in full glow Saturday night as the annual Colby Christmas Light Parade rolled merrily down Franklin Ave. With 20+ dazzling entries and hundreds of bundled-up families lining the street, the night felt like something straight out of a Christmas movie.

This year’s theme- Gingerbread Village- sparked extra sweetness throughout the lineup. From giant gingerbread men decorations to twinkling candy-cane details, many parade entries absolutely nailed the vision, bringing smiles to little ones and grown-ups alike.

Before the parade kicked off, NWKS Radio filled the chilly evening air with classic Christmas tunes, warming hearts even if the temperatures tried their best to chill noses. Parade announcing duties were joyfully handled by Chad Jones, NWKS Radio’s General Manager, as judges watched from the cozy NWKS Rolling Radio booth.

Families cozied up in their cars or along the sidewalks, sipping hot chocolate and munching on cookies handed out by generous community groups. And thanks to Kristina from NWKS Radio, the magical moments were captured in photos, while Addison Stoddard recorded video for everyone to revisit on the NWKS Radio YouTube page and at NWKSRadio.net.

The NWKS Radio crew brought plenty of holiday cheer themselves- Joel Navarro and Connor Schuh- drove one of the station’s trucks, complete with a snow-making machine. Although the machine decided to take an early winter nap just two blocks in, their smiles lasted the entire parade route, sprinkling joy even without the snowflakes.

As tradition holds, Santa and Mrs. Claus led the parade, waving warmly before heading straight to Santa City at Fike Park, where excited kids lined up to share wish lists and Christmas dreams.

For the first time ever, the Colby Thomas County Chamber hosted its Soup Supper Fundraiser after the parade at the Senior Progress Center—a perfect way for families to thaw out and enjoy a warm meal together.

A big shout-out also goes to the Colby Police Department, who kept everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly from 2nd Street all the way to Santa City.

If you missed the fun—or just want to relive the magic—all photos and videos are available on the NWKS Radio Facebook page.

NWKS Radio sends a big thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate this cherished Christmas tradition. Nights like this remind us just how special our community is, and how wonderful it is to come together under glowing lights, festive music, and the shared joy of the season.

Merry Christmas, Colby! 🎄✨

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crKnpQMwgMI