LYNN – The city’s 22nd annual Santa Parade is revving up for a Christmas Eve spectacle.
Richard Vigor, the parade chairman and organizer since the event’s inception in the mid-1980s, said the vehicles will roll despite rain, snow or sleet.
“The weather forecast isn’t in our favor right now because we’re looking at rain,” Vigor said Monday. “But that could change. We’re still hoping for at least 75 vehicles.”
The mechanized parade often has attracted more than 100 trucks of all shapes and sizes, police cruisers, fire engines, ambulances, towing rigs, trolleys, motorcycles and ATVs. Blaring music, sirens and flashing as many lights as possible, the caravan wends through the city streets after dark.
According to Vigor, this year’s parade is scheduled to step off at 5 p.m. but could be slightly delayed because of construction work on the Belden Bly Jr. Bridge that spans the Saugus River on Route 107 and connects Lynn to Revere.
“Traffic from the bridge is being detoured onto Boston and Summer streets. We have to block off Summer Street for about an hour while we line up for the parade, starting at 4 p.m. We’re hoping the police help us out with the traffic situation,” he said, noting the parade vehicles will follow the same 23-mile route as last year, escorted by Lynn police cruisers.
The route begins at Dearborn Avenue and Summer Street, proceeds to Boston Street and Myrtle Street, then onto Holyoke Street and O’Callaghan Way. Once on Walnut Street the parade heads for Linwood Road, then onto Western Avenue and South Common Street, turning onto Pleasant Street and again onto State Street, Broad Street and Lewis Street, respectively, before moving along Fayette and Essex streets and looping back onto Western Avenue.
From Chatham Street the convoy again joins Lewis Street, turns onto New Ocean Street and then onto Eastern Avenue and once again onto Western Avenue.
From Euclid Avenue the parade heads for Broadway, making turns onto Den Quarry Road, Cedar Brook Road, York Road and Casco Road. Once back on Lynnfield Street the vehicles cross over Wyoma Square, retrace Broadway and end on Boston Street.
Organizing the event was particularly difficult this year because of tough financial times and a spate of snow and inclement weather that has put pressure on plow drivers, tow truck drivers and public safety workers.
In addition to Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus, the parade will feature the usual array of celebrity characters. Any vehicle owners who would like the join the procession should call John’s Oil at 781-592-9505 for detailed information.
