2019 Seacoast Holiday Parade Guide: Find one marching near you!

The seacoast is ready to celebrate the winter holidays and several towns are kicking off the season with a Santa parade and other festive activities. Check out what’s going on in your area!

New Hampshire

Dover Holiday Parade
Sunday, December 1, 2019; 3:00pm
Come on out and line Central Avenue in Dover NH on Sunday, December 1, 2019 to watch the Dover Holiday Parade. The Dover Holiday Parade will begin at 3:00PM starting out at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and will continue down Central Ave. through downtown ending at CVS.

Exeter Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 5:30pm
This year’s theme is Holiday Movie Night. This annual event has been the highlight of the holiday season for decades in Exeter. The parade begins on Portsmouth Avenue at OSRAM, makes a right on High St., continues onto Water Street, ending at Swasey Parkway. Be sure to get there early to find a prime spot to watch all the action and welcome Santa Claus to Exeter!

Hampton Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 1:00pm
“Main Street Christmas” – the fun starts at 1pm as floats, bands, entertainers, marchers make their way through down Route 1 into Downtown Hampton. Be on the lookout for Mrs. Clause, she loves the parade along with Santa. Mark your calendar for all of Hampton’s Holiday Events!

Portsmouth Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 5:30pm/6pm
Enjoy the spirit of Christmas in downtown Portsmouth beginning with holiday music at 5pm. Catch the lighting of the Christmas Tree at 5:30pm, followed by the parade at 6pm. The parade marches down Islington St. through Market Square. This year’s theme is “hometown holiday.”

Somersworth/Berwick Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 2:30pm

This year’s parade theme is “Rock-n-roll”. The route will start at Wilson St. in Berwick. It will follow onto Allen St. and Sawmill Hill Rd. and enter Somersworth on Market St. The parade will then head up High St, turn onto Constitutional Ave. and finish on Main St. in front of the Somersworth Plaza.

Rochester Holiday Parade
Sunday, December 8, 2019; 3:00pm
The theme of this year’s parade will be “A Sweet Christmas” and entries are invited to decorate their floats with the theme. Rochester’s Holiday Parade is held each year to kick-off the holiday season in Rochester.  Rochester boasts one of the largest and most spectacular parades in the state with approximately 100 entries. From marching units, youth, organization and commercial floats, VIPs, color guard and marching units, equestrians and marching bands.

Maine

Somersworth/Berwick Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 2:30pm

This year’s parade theme is “Rock-n-roll”. The route will start at Wilson St. in Berwick. It will follow onto Allen St. and Sawmill Hill Rd. and enter Somersworth on Market St. The parade will then head up High St, turn onto Constitutional Ave. and finish on Main St. in front of the Somersworth Plaza.

Kittery Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 3:00pm
The Kiwanis Club of The Seacoast is sponsoring the annual Kittery Holiday Parade this year. This year’s theme is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The parade will step off from Post Office Square at 3PM, follow the traditional parade route through downtown Kittery, and conclude at the John Paul Jones Park with the tree lighting. Businesses, youth groups, and community organizations are encouraged to enter a float or marching group in the parade.

York Festival of Lights Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2019; 4:30pm
The parade will consist of marching bands, floats, clowns, antique cars, public service organizations, business establishments and much more. Many other events, sponsored by the Festival of Lights committee, such as caroling, the lighting of the village square, a Christmas tea at Jefferds Tavern, and the play “A Christmas Carol,” will be a part of this celebration.

Massachusetts

Santa Parade & Tree Lighting in Newburyport
Sunday, December 1, 2019; 3:30pm-5:00pm
As the holiday season approaches, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive in the most fitting way for this seaport town by US Coast Guard boat! Welcome Santa on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as he and Mrs. Claus dock at the boardwalk and begin to parade through downtown Newburyport, then gather in Market Square for the annual Christmas tree lighting and carols.

Did we forget to add something? Send your town’s holiday plans to us and we’ll add them!

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