Laconia Holiday Parade steps off at 1 p.m. today; switch to Saturday seen as boost for downtown biz

LACONIA — The annual Holiday Parade will step off from Wyatt Park at one o'clock today, marking the first time in many years that the event has been held on a Saturday.

The switch from a Sunday parade has downtown merchants optimistic that it's going to be a good thing for them.

“There are going to be between 3,000 and 5,000 people watching. We're hoping many of them will be filing into restaurants and downtown businesses after the parade has ended,'' says Randy Bullerwell of All My Life Jewelers, a member of the Main Street Initiative, which along with the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce organizes the parade.

Warren Clement, who ran the former Sundial Shop in the downtown area for 38 years, says that he thinks switching to a Saturday parade makes a lot of sense.

“Most of the downtown businesses are closed on Sunday. This will bring a lot of people to downtown when they're open” says Clement, who recalls that for many years the parade was held on a Saturday.

The parade will be led by a colorful group known as the Snow Shovel Brigade, whose members will be wearing mismatched winter outfits and performing intricate — if lightly rehearsed — march routines under the direction of Larry Frates of the Frates Creative Arts Center, grand marshal for this year's parade.

Frates, who said that he couldn't visualize himself riding in a convertible and waving to the crowd, says that the Snow Shovel Brigade is the winter counterpart of the popular Lawn Chair Brigade which he organized and was a popular part of summer parades in the region for many years.

There will be three bands in this year's parade, from Laconia, Gilford and Belmont with as many as 50 organizations and businesses marching or having their own float according to Bullerwell.

The parade will see many dancers from local dance academies taking part as well as antique cars and even a team of oxen from Ox-K Farm in Gilford.

The parade will begin at Wyatt Park, continue up Main Street, and end at the historic train station in Veteran’s Square with the lighting of the community Christmas tree.

“Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on the last float and when they arrive at the tree Santa will wave his wand and light the tree,'' says Bullerwell.

The annual Santa Train Ride from the historic Laconia railroad station, which in past years has immediately followed the parade, will be held on Sunday.

The Santa Train will leave the train station at 1, 1:30 and 2 p.m. for a ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Anyone may ride the train by donating a new, unwrapped toy at the time of boarding. The event is sponsored by the Winnipesaukee Railroad, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Fund of the Greater Lakes Region.