Marblehead Christmas Parade Canceled, Santa Moved, Due To Wind, Rain

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The expected rain may wash out Marblehead's annual holiday parade, but it will not keep Santa Claus away from Marblehead, on Saturday.

Saturday's Christmas Walk Parade as part of the 51st annual town holiday celebration was canceled because of forecasts of high winds and rain on Friday.

"Unfortunately, due to scheduling and logistics, we are unable to reschedule the parade this year." the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce said.

However, that should not dampen all seasonal spirits in town as the holiday tree lighting remains on as scheduled Friday night and Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus is still set to arrive in town for a holiday party at Marblehead High School from 10 a.m. to noon.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katherine Koch told Patch early Friday afternoon that after some reconsideration it was determined that the wind at the docks might be a bit too much for Santa to take the boat to The Landing for a sea arrival.

Instead, the big man in the red suit will head over to the high school through more traditional holiday means and hold a party late in the morning that will include pictures and holiday music.

That event is expected to still be held outside at the high school. From there, residents can hop on the trolley to head downtown to the remainder of the Saturday events that are set to go on as scheduled.

The Landing on Front Street will be open for business on Saturday with those who had planned on coming to see Santa encouraged to visit the restaurant.

A list of activities still a go in this year's holiday festival can be found on Patch here.

Marblehead police advised there will be some road and parking restrictions in place to account for revelers for Friday night's tree lighting.

"Our hope is to minimize the negative traffic effects, but there are parts of the town that will be impacted," police said.

Traffic mitigation measures are subject to change based on need.

For Friday night's tree lighting at National Grand Bank, traffic detours will begin at 6 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7.

Inbound Pleasant Street at the 3 Cod Tavern will be detoured right onto and down Washington Street, through the Five Corners intersection, continuing straight up Washington Street towards Abbot Hall.

Essex Street will be closed. This will include MBTA buses, which will follow Washington Street until it gets back on the normal route by lower Pleasant Street. MBTA buses (and regular traffic) traveling outbound on Elm Street will continue straight onto Sewall, left onto School and right back onto Pleasant Street outbound.

Spring Street heading towards Pleasant Street will be closed at the traffic island to through traffic. Access to residences and businesses will be allowed as pedestrian traffic permits.

Police will no longer be closing streets on Saturday for Santa's arrival or along the route of the canceled parade.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)