In this week’s paper, you will read quite a bit about one of the town’s most beloved annual traditions: the Christmas Walk. With that in mind, as I made my weekly trip through the Daily Evening Item archives, stumbling upon coverage of the walk 35 years ago, I figured I might as well add to the party.
1988’s walk marked the 17th annual, with festivities kicking off on Friday, Dec. 2 — though festivities kicked off early when state Rep. Lawrence Alexander presented a state proclamation to the walk’s treasurer, James Bishop, and director, Ed Cowden, on behalf of Gov. Michael Dukakis at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner days earlier in the week. And, on Thursday, Dec. 1, ice sculptures went up at Philanthropic Hall.
But the real festivities began the next day when a 70-foot tree was illuminated with 3,000 lights. It wasn’t just that tree — two others, at Tent’s Corner and Seaside Park, were also lit up to kick off celebrations. Just half an hour after the tree lighting, the Woman of the Year Award was given to Joan VonSternberg, and the Marblehead Little Theatre group performed for residents of the Devereux House.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Santa’s arrival highlighted Saturday morning. St. Nick took a few laps around town aboard a trolley, and later, the Christmas Walk Parade filled the town with the sound of marching bands.
Sunday featured Glover’s Regiment and the 74th Regiment Afoot.
Cowden anticipated the walk to draw more than 20,000 people each day of the festival.
“It’s just a wonderful way to usher in the season,” he is quoted as saying. “It’s crowded and difficult in some ways. But do you remember the Blizzard of ’78? Well, it’s sort of like that. It is just a warm, friendly atmosphere.”