(See related map below.)
Haverhill Christmas celebrations take place Friday with the Christmas Stroll, official tree lighting and Santa Stumble.
It all begins Friday, Dec. 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Washington Square with children’s activities surrounding a Christmas Stroll, including face painting, balloon twisting and a bubble magician. At the same time, there will be performances of holiday favorites, led by Haverhill’s Bobby Gariepy, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program.
Gariepy said music comes from such groups as Be Imagine studios; Sons of Italy Drum and Bugle Corps and, by the one he’s leading, Methuen Young People’s Theater.
“And then my kids will be performing Christmas carols, like very classic ones, like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, the Holly and the Ivy as well as other select musical numbers from Joe Gori’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’”
Gori, a graduate of Berklee College of music, has worked as a choral or musical director for more than 35 years, including six years at Methuen High School, 20 years at Haverhill High, 16 years at Merrimack College, 17 years at Holy Angels Parish and 21 years at Methuen Young People’s Theater. “A Christmas Carol” will be presented later this month at Methuen Memorial Music Hall.
Making arrangements for Friday nights’ guest of honor is Eva Montibello, who joined Gariepy for the interview.
“What I will comfortably say is the tree lighting will happen between 6:40 and 7 p.m. We expect the whole program to be complete by 7 p.m. as there are other events running that night, but Santa Claus is, quote, unquote, technically supposed to show up at 6:30 and we need a little bit of wiggle room,” she explains.
Following Haverhill’s Tree lighting is the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Stanta Stumble. Chamber interim President and CEO Kate Martin, in a separate WHAV appearance, talks about the event for people 21 years of age and older.
“Several of the restaurants are participating. Casa Blanca, Wicket Ax, G’s, Peddler’s Daughter and Barrio’s and they are all going to offer a different special, like a different holiday-themed drink. For example, Casa Blanca is going to have a Grinch margarita,” she explains.
Martin says costumes are encouraged for the Santa Stumble and, unlike last years’ event, participants will be able to go to any location, at any time, during the event scheduled to end at 11 p.m.
Map of Christmas Stroll events.