Saturday’s 72nd Concord Christmas Parade Canceled

CONCORD, NH — Saturday’s Concord Christmas Parade, which was to be the 72nd one held in the city, has been canceled.

Brian Blackden, the organizer of the parade, said due to rainy and stormy weather, the parade was canceled and not be postponed to another date. He said he made the decision with “great regret and personal sadness,” but the weather radar and map readings projected inclement weather.

According to forecasters, rain was expected between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is around 70 percent.

It is only the second time in 72 years that the parade has been canceled.

Highlights From The 2021 Parade

“We cannot have a rain date as so many people have asked because the police departments are so low-staffed,” he said. “They cannot reschedule officers for the next day or even up to weeks away, which would prohibit the event. I have to take public safety into concern as the first thought. While I would love to have it, anyone who participates in the rain would be dealing with floats that would be falling apart, if made out of cardboard. Scholarship program contestants who would be dealing with open convertibles on expensive cars, people walking, getting soaking wet, and a DJ and Concord Community Television with thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment that may get wet.”

Blackden added he did not think the usual 5,000 to 6,000 people who traditionally attend the popular event would be there.

“With all of the weather intelligence that I have garnered, I have to make this decision for basically public safety concerns,” he said.

Blackden said the situation was “lose-lose” and joked he had “an anvil over my head.” If the parade is held, some folks will be angry; if it is canceled and the weather turns out to be OK, others will be angry. Maybe, he joked, he should change his name.

Blackden added, “I cannot, in good conscience, risk people getting sick or possibly injured if we have the proposed inclement weather according to the following maps. I apologize from the bottom of my heart as I have put in hundreds of hours of work and money already to prepare for what would’ve been our 72nd parade, and it is a difficult decision but necessary.”

Blackden promised that the 73rd event would be an exceptional one.

It is unknown if outgoing Mayor Jim Bouley, who was to be the grand marshal this year, will be the marshal next year, but Blackden has extended that invitation.

The 38th annual Downtown Concord tree lighting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 24.

Have you got a news tip? Please send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Check out the #FITN2024 NH Patch post channel and follow our politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.