Laconia holiday tree and parade route location to change

LACONIA — The Laconia Parks & Recreation Commission has changed the location for the display of the city's Holiday Tree from Veteran’s Square to Stewart Park. The blue spruce tree at Stewart Park will be pruned this season. Using a live tree will avoid the challenges and costs associated with the location, cutting, transportation, staging and disposal of a cut tree. 

This change in the tree location will require a change in the parade route. The parks and recreation department will work with Celebrate Laconia to define a new route to the tree’s next location. Preliminary plans include staging the parade at Opechee Park and then marching through Main Street to support local businesses. The parade will end at Stewart Park, where there is plenty of space for the public to gather for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Traffic will be rerouted to allow for overflow of celebrants. Revelers are invited to join together on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the annual celebration kicking off the city's holiday season.