The Marblehead Christmas Walk is returning for its 52nd year. The Chamber of Commerce’s four-day holiday extravaganza begins on Thursday, Nov. 30 and is slated to have more than 60 individual events.
Chamber Executive Director Katherine Koch was especially looking forward to this year’s edition of the walk, after some of last year’s most popular festivities were hindered by the weather.
“These are all just really community-based exciting fun traditions that I am really thankful to have back this year because last year we had such terrible weather. We had to make the very difficult decision to cancel the parade and Santa’s landing,” Koch said. “So I think people are going to be extra excited to have these events and traditions back this year.”
In addition to those two staple events making their return, Koch and the chamber are excited to introduce some new offerings for 2023. Two standout additions are a living Nativity scene with animals to be petted at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Center on Saturday, Dec. 2, and “reindeer” rides from ponies outside Shubie’s Marketplace on Sunday, Dec. 3.
“It’s just the most adorable thing and I love the creativity there,” Koch said.
Traditional festivities are back, as Thursday’s Holiday Shopping Preview Night will be followed by Friday’s Tree Lighting at 7 p.m. in the National Grand Bank parking lot. Rey Moulton Person of the Year Dan Dixey will light this year’s tree. Numerous nonprofits will have tents set up where attendees will be able to learn about them. However, that will not be the only tree lighting taking place Friday night, as Glover’s Marblehead Regiment will lead the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree Lighting at Mud Puddle Toys at 7:30 p.m. Saturday kicks off with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus via lobster boat at 9 a.m. The parade kicks off later that day at State Street Landing at 11:45 a.m. The final event of the walk is the Old North Church Festival Chorus’ Holiday Concert on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The entire event contains numerous musical performances throughout, including the Marblehead High School Marching Band, Veterans Middle School Select Chorus, Glover School Children’s Traveling Chorus, and more.
Koch expressed her gratitude to numerous individuals and organizations in town for the part they play in making the event possible. They included National Grand Bank, Marblehead Bank, Academy Mortgage, Bartlett and Steadman Plumbing and Heating, The Landing’s Robert Simonelli, Veterans Services Agent Dave Rodgers, Harbormaster Mark Souza, the Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Public Works.
“We rely on all of them to make something like this possible,” Koch said.