Get Ready for Concord’s Christmas Parade

CONCORD, NH — It’s that time of the year again: The Concord Christmas Parade, the 65th time the event has been held, begins at 9:30 and runs through 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, with a rain date of 2 p.m. on Nov. 20, if necessary. Celebrate the season with marching bands, fire trucks, floats, live performances, a visit from Santa himself, and much more.

The parade will run from Loudon Road starting at Hazen Drive to D’Amante Drive (see police details below). The road will be closed before and after the parade, so use caution and enter via side streets from I-393 on the north and Old Turnpike Road and Pembroke Road on the south side of the roadway.

The review stand for performances will be in front of The Stove Barn, 249 Loudon Road.

Police traffic info

The Concord Police released the following information about the parade route. Expect delays and plan accordingly:

The parade will form at the John O. Morton Building on Hazen Drive. It will exit from the driveway, immediately cross over to the northbound lane of Hazen Drive, travel southerly on Hazen Drive to Loudon Road and travel easterly along Loudon Road. It will then travel northerly on D’Amante Drive and easterly onto Old Loudon Road where it will disband behind the new strip mall.

As in past years, this parade is quite long and will significantly delay motorists using Loudon Road both westbound and eastbound. Loudon Road will be closed to all traffic from Hazen Drive to the area of the Steeplegate Mall. Motorists are asked to plan their travel routes accordingly. In the past years, we have asked that through traffic utilize I-393.

Northbound traffic on Airport Road will be allowed to turn west onto Loudon Road and after the parade passes, traffic will be able to cross northerly to Hazen Drive.

Access to the Steeplegate Mall shopping area will be from Loudon Road westbound, Route 106 via either I-393 or Regional Drive to Route 106.

Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution when traveling on the Heights and be aware of pedestrians gathering for the parade. Many volunteers and police staff will be posted to assist with traffic issues.