The 52nd Annual VFW Santa Parade takes place Sunday afternoon with five divisions—each with more than a dozen bands and floats.
VFW’s traditional parade takes place, beginning at 1 p.m., and runs along Route 125 from Hunking School in Bradford to Monument Square, concluding at VFW Post 29 on Kenoza Avenue. This year’s theme is “Inside Santa’s Workshop.”
Here’s a tentative lineup of what visitors can expect.
First Division
The first division forms at the Bradford Fire Station, unless otherwise indicated below, and steps off promptly at 1:00 p.m. Dan Plourde, Jr. and Kevin Bolduc, organizers.
- 52nd Annual VFW Santa Parade Banner “Inside Santa’s Workshop”
- Haverhill High School Jr. R.O.T.C. Color Guard and Unit
- S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp
- Lorraine Post 29 VFW Commander Edwin Girroir World War II Veteran
- VFW District Commander
- Haverhill District Council Veterans
- Amvets Post 147 Color Guard
- Greater Haverhill Korean Veterans Association
- Hannah Dustin Chapter 20 Disabled American Veterans (DAV) & Vehicle
- S. Marine Corps League
- Essex County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard and Marchers
- Haverhill Police Department Color Guard & Officers
- City and state officials
- Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Trolley
Second Division
Daniel Plourde, Sr. and Richard Willett, organizers.
- Hallamore Clydesdales & Hitch (Wood)
- Lowell Spinners Canaligator Mascot in Car (Wood)
- STARS Special Olympics Float (Hunking)
- Lifelong Journey Marchers (Wood)
- Pentucket Bank Float (Hunking)
- Salem High School Marching Band, sponsored by Pentucket Bank (Hunking)
- Sacred Hearts School Float (Hunking)
- Karla Pattavina’s Dance Academy (Wood)
- Consentino Honor Society & Cheerleaders (Wood)
- Middlesex County Volunteers Fife & Drums (Hunking)
- Masons of the 11th Masonic District Marchers (Wood)
- South End Dynamite Dancers (Wood)
- Haverhill Exchange Club Float (Hunking)
- 2016 VFW Santa Golf Champions (Hunking)
- Londonderry High School Marching Band (Hunking)-sponsored by Bradford Country Club
- Haverhill Recreation Department Float & Marchers (Hunking)
- The Eagle Tribune Banner with Marchers (Wood)
Third Division
Andrew Plourde, organizer.
- Wally & Tessie Red Sox Mascots in Thunderbird Cars (Hunking)
- Ocasio True Martial Arts Marchers (Wood)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Marching Band (Hunking)
- Riverside Church Float (Hunking)
- Nancy Chippendale Dancers (Wood)
- Tilton School Float (Hunking)
- Reading High School Marching Band (Hunking)
- Joseph’s School Float (Hunking School)
- VFW Santa Parade Donation Collection Blanket, Costume Characters & Collectors (Wood)
- Nettle School Cheerleaders (Wood School)
- Beverly High School Marching Band (Hunking)
- Kona-Ice 4U Float (Wood)
- All That Jazz Dance Studio Marchers (Wood)
- Haverhill Alternative School Float (Hunking)
- Cedardale Health & Fitness Float (Hunking)
- Dance Works Marchers (Wood)
Fourth Division
Danielle Plourde & Heather Johns, organizers.
- Sax Pack (Hunking)
- Haverhill Boxing Club Marchers (Wood)
- Clan MacPherson Pipes & Drums (Hunking)
- Whittier Technical High School Float (Hunking)
- Legends Gymnastics (Wood)
- Milestone Equestrian Centre Horses (Wood)
- Methuen High School Marching Band (Hunking)-sponsored by Haverhill Beef
- Haverhill YMCA Float (Hunking)
- Betsy A. Conte Food Drive Vehicles & Cub Scout Pack 63 Marchers (Wood)
- Ayer-Shirley Regional High School Marching Band (Hunking)
- Indigo Pixies Float (Wood)
- Covanta-Haverhill Float (Hunking)
- Just Dance Academy Marchers (Wood)
- Georgetown High School Marching Band (Hunking)
- Salvation Army Float (Hunking)
- 7 WROR Radio Car & Characters (Wood School)
Fifth Division
Jessica Plourde, organizer.
- King of Grace Church (Wood)
- Bektash Shriners Clowns (Wood)
- Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School Float (Hunking)
- Jamabalaya Mobile Band (Hunking)
- Roland Poor Family Float (Hunking)
- New Liberty Jazz Band (Hunking)
- MJS Construction Float (Hunking)
- Haverhill High School Float (Hunking)
- Haverhill High School & Middle School Marching Band (Hunking)
- John Poor Family Float (Hunking)
- Brookridge Community Church Float (Hunking)
- Sons of Italy Drum & Bugle Corp. (Hunking)
- Santa Claus Float-sponsored by Haverhill Bank (Hunking)
For those participating in the parade, organizers says all marching bands and floats form at the Hunking School grounds, using the Winchester Street side-entrance (off Fernwood Avenue) after 9:45 a.m. They should exit from Revere Street and from the front gate (South Main Street) after 9:45 a.m.
All fire engines, antique cars and emergency vehicles will assemble at Cumberland, Edmund and Kensington Avenues. This division steps off at 12:55 p.m.