PORTSMOUTH — A dose of holiday cheer arrived six months earlier than anticipated, as the city announced it will revive its holiday parade and Market Square tree lighting ceremony this December.
Overseen by the city’s recreation department, the staples of the season, as well as a non-perishable item food drive, will occur on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4.
The announcement was made by the department on Facebook on Wednesday, saying, “Help make our holiday parade the best year yet!”
Brinn Sullivan, coordinator of the holiday parade, said Wednesday that the holiday festivities are her favorite event of the year.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled that the holiday parade is coming back,” she said.
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In an average year, Sullivan said the parade attracts over 10,000 visitors to the city’s historic downtown to watch approximately 70 local organizations participate in the parade.
'Biggest and brightest'
Desiring to make this year’s parade the biggest and brightest bash in its over 50-year history, Sullivan said the recreation department will look to incorporate members of Portsmouth’s performing arts community into the parade and tree lighting.
If need be, the city will continue to take all necessary precautions in accordance with public health protocol, she added.
Early last month, Portsmouth’s City Council unanimously approved a request to allow City Manager Karen Conard to begin planning for the Portsmouth Halloween Parade, also canceled due to the coronavirus in 2020.
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“These are all signs that we are returning to some sense of normalcy, that we are going to be able to celebrate together in person and that's a really good thing,” Sullivan said.
Last year Portsmouth opted to cancel its parade, preventing the typical throngs of jolly visitors from flooding the downtown amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Instead, Mayor Rick Becksted and his niece, Sloan, led a short countdown before flicking the switch to illuminate the city’s 30-foot tall holiday tree, which typically precedes the parade, before an intimate crowd of city councilors and some city staff members.
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To spread more cheer in the trying holiday season, Portsmouth implemented a holiday lights display contest among city residents, a gingerbread hunt tour among Portsmouth businesses led by the Portsmouth Historical Society, and Santa paraded through the city on a firetruck tour.
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Donated by the Pound family of Portsmouth, the city’s holiday tree also stayed up until late March, after it had been adorned with homemade hearts for Valentine's Day and shamrocks to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.
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In 2019, over 1,300 participants from over 50 local organizations, including the Seacoast Science Center, the Portsmouth Thriller Dancers and Heinemann Publishing, as well as high school bands from Portsmouth and Dover, registered to walk the holiday parade route.
The 2021 tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the parade stepping off from Islington Street at 6 p.m. The food drive will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. and items can be dropped off at the Market Square parade platform.
A parking ban will be implemented downtown the night of the parade. Should inclement weather impact the events, the make-up date is scheduled for the following evening, Sunday, Dec. 5
The Link LonkJune 03, 2021 at 04:00PM
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Another dose of cheer: Portsmouth holiday parade, tree lighting to return - Seacoastonline.com
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