Jay walking in Big shoes in Lynn parade

LYNN – Jay Walsh hopes the forecast for heavy rains on Christmas Eve proves false, but he will be ready with rainwear and tarps nonetheless.Walsh has participated in the annual parade since it began in 1986. The GE River Works employee and son of John and Laurie Walsh credits the parade?s popularity to the late Rich Viger, who died in 2013, and Mike Kidney, who died on Dec. 13.?Richie had this bond with people, especially those who were less fortunate, and Big Mike was always there, but he really filled the void after we lost Richie,” said Walsh, who has taken over the role of parade director.When Walsh was a boy he said Viger was “like an older brother” – always a split-second or quick step away from having fun. When Viger heard Saugus was hosting a Christmas parade, he parked his truck in front of the Walsh home, grabbed young Jay, and the pair arrived in Saugus in time to jump into the town parade.?We got right in behind Santa,” Walsh said.The experience thrilled 6-year-old Walsh and motivated Viger to launch Lynn?s Christmas parade with initially skeptical assistance from Walsh?s parents. They mounted a sleigh on the flatbed of one of John?s Oil?s newly purchased trucks and bought yards of red velvet at Zimman?s to decorate the makeshift float.?We just drove around and it grew from there,” Walsh recalled.Walsh said Viger drew on his experience working for the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development to plot the parade?s route. He made sure the parade passed senior housing buildings and wound through some of the city?s poorest neighborhoods.?He had an opportunity to work with a lot of less fortunate people,” Walsh said.The parade?s cast of characters expanded with the route – Janet Melanson took on her now-traditional role as Mrs. Claus and her brother, Don, took center stage as Santa, with Walsh dressing, over the years, as ET or a California Raisin.Kidney became the parade?s troubleshooter and Viger?s good-natured but imposing right-hand man. The parade is dedicated this year in Kidney?s memory. Walsh said Kidney liked handing out miniature flashlights bearing the name of his company, Big Mike?s Trucking – always making sure Walsh?s daughter, Jayla, got one.?She loved him,” he said.One of the parade?s floats this year is a Walsh family labor of love with Walsh?s wife, Jill, and her sister, Margaret Marston, dressing as the sisters from “Frozen” with Jayla also dressing up. More than 100 floats and vehicles will crisscross Lynn – regardless of the weather – Wednesday night.?It?s gone on to become generational – it?s a huge testament to the individuals involved,” Walsh said.