One of my favorite holiday traditions on Thanksgiving is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. While most of the gentlemen in my family would holler and hoot over a football game, there would always be another, usually smaller, TV on, modestly volumed, and filled with what seemed like a million holiday floats! The bands would march with their brass shimmering and favorite character mascots would wave to the crowds. And the man himself, Santa Claus, with his Missus, would make a shining appearance! I will never forget the magic I felt as a child while watching the parade with the smell of turkey floating in the air. This is a tradition I hope to pass on to my children and generations to come.

New Hampshire also has many local parades and strolls just bursting with holiday magic. To share some holiday spirit with you and yours, we are compiling a list of such events here. Events are separated by Parade and Stroll and towns are listed alphabetically with date, time and details in the description.

*** We will add to this list so check in often! ***

Do you have information on New Hampshire holiday parades or strolls that you would like to see listed? Please email to jjordan@nh.com or post to the NH.com Facebook Fan Page!

Looking for other local holiday events and information? Check out the NH.com Snow Fun page for a holiday events calendar, skiing, ice skating, sleigh rides and sledding information, shopping and tree tips, contests and more!

Holiday Parades

Concord 60^th Annual Christmas Parade: Saturday, November 19 at 9:30 a.m. This year's event will be very special. The parade is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year's event will be Dick Patten's 40th year as Chairman with James Cusano, Co-chair and ready to step up to be Chairman following this year's event. Dick Pat...ten will be Chairman Emeritus. To date, Dan Duquette, former Boston Red Sox General Manager will be Parade Marshal.

Deerfield Annual Gazebo Lighting and Firefighter's Parade: Sunday, November 27 from 2pm-5pm in Gazebo Field. We have made some changes to the program this year to make things more comfortable for families and to emphasize the Santa time more. Schedule is as follows. 2-4pm at the Deerfield Town Hall will be "Sit with Santa." Enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, and goodies. At 4 p.m. the gazebo will be lit and the firemen's parade will begin. Please bring a baked goodie if you can.

Derry Annual Holiday Parade: Saturday, November 26 at 1pm. The Town of Derry and the Greater Derry Chamber of Commerce present the annual Holiday Parade, this year held on Saturday, November 26th, 2011. Parade step off occurs at 1:00 p.m., with the parade marching down Broadway, to Crystal Avenue, and ending at Hood Commons. This is a large community parade with hundreds of participants, floats, marching bands, local celebrities, and the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

Dover Holiday Parade: Sunday, November 27 from 2:30pm-4:30pm. Starts on Sixth Street and ends at Care Pharmacy Parking Lot.

Enfield Hometown Holidays: Saturday, December 3 from 10am- 4pm at the Community Building, Huse Park. A day of holiday activities geared towards families with children with an eye on bringing local residents together to celebrate the holiday season. Activities include: Adult wreath decorating, caroling, cooking decorating, craft workshop, holiday market, holiday parade, horse-drawn wagon rides, home and business decorating contest, music, One-day Cafe, Santa visit, story time and tree lighting.

Exeter "A Night of Lights" Holiday Parade: Saturday, December 3 at 5:30pm. This magical downtown event draws children of all ages to line the streets of Exeter. Last year's parade featured illuminated floats, horse drawn wagons, colorful marching bands, several beauty queens and yes, a special visit from Santa Claus. This evening event is considered one of the finest parades in the seacoast area. So, bring your family, friends and neighbors and celebrate the magic of the holiday season, Exeter-style.

Hampstead Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 10 at 2pm on Main Street. The Hampstead Firemen's Association will host its Annual Christmas Parade. The theme for this year's parade is "Christmas Around the World". Lineup will begin at 12:30PM. The parade will proceed down Main Street promptly at 2:00 PM and all are welcome back at the fire station where trophies will be awarded to the winning floats (all judges decisions will be final) and ribbons will be given to all other participants. There will also be hot chocolate, cookies, conversation with friends and family and a special visit from Santa Claus for all the children.

Hampton Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 3 at 1pm. Route 1 to Center School. The Christmas Parade is on! Floats, bands, and entertainers will be marching through Downtown Hampton. "Hampton...One Beautiful Town", was selected as this year's theme.

Laconia Holiday Parade: Saturday, November 26 at 1pm. The parade will begin at Wyatt Park, continue down Main Street, and end at the historic train station in Veteran's Square with the lighting of the Christmas Tree. This is a fun parade for all. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. After the parade, there's the Santa Train at Veteran's Square for the kids. Admission is one unwrapped toy or article of clothing per child. Of course, there's always the hot cocoa and cookies available in the rotunda.

Merrimack Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony: Sunday, December 4 at 3pm. "Light Up the Night with the Holiday Spirit," The Merrimack Parks and Recreation Department and the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that the annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2011, beginning at 3 p.m. The parade route will begin at The Commons Shopping Plaza. Traveling down Daniel Webster Hwy., we will continue south fnishing at Abbie Griffin Park where Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet with the children to hear their wishes and the Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin. We encourage all families to join us as we sing festive holiday carols around the tree! We are accepting donations of non-perishable food items for anyone wishing to donate to the local food pantry. Come join us as we welcome the Holiday season! All citizens, organizations and businesses are welcome to participate. The theme for this year's parade is "Light up the Night with Holiday Spirit". A rain date of Sunday, December 11, 2011 has been set.

Manchester Spirit of New Hampshire Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 3 at 4pm. Each year, nearly 30,000 people descend on downtown to see festive floats, world class marching bands and of course, Santa Claus! Elm St. Join Granite State Credit Union and Intown Manchester for the largest float parade in the state of New Hampshire.

Plymouth 2011 Hometown Holiday Celebration: Fri-Sun, December 2 -4. Invite your family and friends to visit this weekend. The Plymouth Rotary is sponsoring this long-time holiday tradition. 4th Annual Festival of Trees, "Shop Local" business extravaganza, holiday parade, Christmas music sing-a-long, Elves on the Common, "Chili-Buster" bonfire and fireworks following the parade! On Sunday, skate with Santa at the PSU ice arena.

Portsmouth 2011 Portsmouth Illuminated Holiday Parade: Saturday, December 3 at 5pm. This year's theme is "A Caring Christmas" celebrating the work of non-profits. Parade participants and attendees are encouraged to bring food items for a Food Drive benefiting local organizations. The Tree Lighting ceremony begins at 5 p.m. in Market Square with music from the Portsmouth Middle School Band, concluding at 5:30 p.m. with the official tree lighting. The Holiday Parade begins at 6 p.m. from Plaza 800 and travels a route through downtown to the South Mill Pond parking lot.

Rochester Holiday Parade: Sunday, December 4 at 3pm. "A Christmas Carol" will be the theme of this year's parade. Entries are now being accepted for floats, marching, mobile and equestrian units in the parade.

Salem Holiday Parade: Sunday, November 27 at 1 p.m., The parade route will begin at Cisco Systems on Northeastern Boulevard, proceed down Main Street towards the Salem Depot, turn onto Geremonty Drive and end at the Salem High School.

Wolfeboro Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: Saturday, November 26 at 3pm. This annual Christmas parade is a fun event for the whole family. It will take place between 3-4 p.m. and will be followed by a tree lighting and visit from Santa at Cate Park at the Town Docks.


Holiday Strolls

Nashua Winter Holiday Stroll: Saturday, November 26 from 5pm-10pm. More than 30,000 people attend this downtown Nashua event that features live entertainment, a beer garden, ice sculpting, caroling, street vendors, a candlelit stroll, holiday shopping and more.

Salem Greystone Farm Holiday Stroll: Thursday, December 8 from 6-8pm. Silent Auction and Grand Raffle featuring sleighs and baskets filled all different kinds of gift items and gift cards. Decorated wreaths of all types. Features entertainment and food and beverage

Portsmouth A Candlelit Stroll: December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 from 5pm-9pm at Strawberry Banke. With hundreds of candles lighting the lanes and landscapes, stroll through life in a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations, unfolds around you in New Hampshire's oldest waterfront neighborhood. Houses are decorated in period regalia, enjoy live music and all-ages holiday entertainment, a gingerbread house contest and display, horse-drawn carriage rides, demonstrations in traditional barrel making, tinsmith, holiday hearth cooking and more!

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