City in good spirits for 25th Lynn Christmas Parade

LYNN – A community united in the holiday spirit and the tragedy of losing a Peabody firefighter brought an extra-special tone to this year’s landmark Lynn Christmas Parade, organizers and participants said.This year marked the parade’s 25th year winding through 26 miles of the streets of Lynn. Members of the community and local businesses and clubs created more than 100 holiday floats and shared Christmas cheer with residents of Lynn lined up to watch the parade.But organizers were also reflective after a 46-year-old Peabody firefighter, James Rice, died while battling a fire in downtown Peabody on Friday.A sign honoring Rice’s sacrifice stretched across the front of one of the parade’s most distinctive floats?a fire engine carrying Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their reindeer.”It was the least we could do,” Viger said.Viger and organizers also planned another patriotic surprise for the end of the parade.Read Tuesday’s Daily Item to find out the surprise, plus full coverage of the parade.