Even though Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, the Christmas holiday season is ready to blow into Haverhill like brisk winter air.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the 16th annual Christmas Stroll will bring holiday cheer to downtown Haverhill from 2 to 6 p.m. The Christmas Stroll takes place along Washington and Merrimack streets and is organized by the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and its Community Support Committee.
"With the Santa Parade, this really starts off the Christmas season downtown," said Leanne Eastman of the chamber.
The event will feature a full schedule of singers and performers on stage as well as carolers and musicians strolling through the crowd. There also will be the Christmas Castle at Pentucket Bank and the Polar Express organized by Little Sprouts in Columbus Park for children, as well as a merchant sticker stroll, where guests can pick up a booklet at the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce booth and collect stickers as they visit the participating shops and businesses downtown. A completed sheet enters the collector into a drawing for prizes.
More than 5,000 people attended last year's event. Like last year, Ron Carpenito will be the master of ceremonies.
At 5:45 p.m., he'll turn the reins over to Santa Claus and Mayor James Fiorentini so they can light the city's Christmas tree.
Sponsored by Pentucket Bank, Pentucket Medical Associates and Trinity EMS, the Christmas Stroll has become an annual holiday tradition for families in Haverhill and beyond, particularly after it was changed from a Friday night to Sunday afternoon last year.
"We got great feedback," said Eastman. "It's more of a family, community event now that it's on Sunday, and that's also another day for businesses to be open. Hopefully, people will be shopping as well as taking part in the festivities."
For more information on the event, updates on performances, or to sign up for updates via e-mail, visit celebratehaverhill.com.
Vendors needed
The Community Support Committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is looking for vendors to participate in the Christmas Stroll. Vendor booths sized 6 feet by 10 feet can be secured for $100. Vendors can include food, arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, gift items, information, games, toys, etc. Vendors also may purchase more than one booth if they wish. All booths should have a holiday theme or be decorated to reflect the colors of the holiday. To secure a space, contact committee member Paul Malone at 978-914-4954 or Jen Cantwell at the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce at 978-373-5663. You can also e-mail Jen at jen@haverhillchamber.com
Search for tree is on
Representatives from the Haverhill Downtown Association, a committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, have been all over the city taking a closer look at its most impressive trees in the hopes of finding the conifer to crown as Haverhill's city Christmas tree for 2008.
The tree will be lit by Santa and Mayor James Fiorentini at the Christmas Stroll on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Many city residents were eager to have their evergreens examined and some threw their hats in the ring early this year.
"We had a few people call us months ago about it," said Leanne Eastman of the chamber.
No matter whose tree is chosen, Eastman can say one thing for certain.
"I promise it will be a beautiful tree," she said.
