MANCHESTER, N.H. – The future of parades in the Queen City became a topic of discussion for the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) following concerns from At-Large Alderman Dan O’Neil.
The discussion, beginning in the Dec. 3 BMA Committee on Public Safety, Health and Traffic came after O’Neil had spoken to representatives in Concord and Nashua, noting a recent nearly two-mile long Veterans’ Day Parade in Nashua that likely could not be duplicated in Manchester due to what he referred to as a “one-size-fits-all” approach toward parades regarding length on Elm Street. He also praised Nashua’s recent Christmas Stroll, noting that the Nashua had put thousands of dollars into the event, something Manchester’s municipal government does not duplicate.
O’Neil also expressed concerns about the amount of city employees involved in event requests, which he counted at 33, and wished the Dec. 6 Holiday Parade in Manchester could have once again began at the corner of Elm and Salmon Streets rather than Elm and Bridge Street. Even without the move to Salmon and Elm, he strongly opposed using the Bridge Street Bridge as a staging area for any parade, citing security concerns. He added that if threats were made to an event it should be cancelled and there should be community input into parade planning.
“My point in talking to Concord and Nashua is that one size does not fit all,” he said. “They take each individual event and they make decisions based on an individual event.”
Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry agreed with O’Neil on beginning parades north of Bridge Street for larger parades, but felt that the Bridge Street Bridge was an appropriate staging area for smaller parades due to the support of Brady Sullivan Properties near the Bridge Street staging area, providing facilities for members of the parade.
Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor also agreed with O’Neil’s emphasis on safety, also adding that the name of the Holiday Parade should be changed to the Christmas Parade, emphasizing that she supported this change despite the fact she was raised to follow Judaism.
Ward 2 Alderman Dan Goonan and Ward 11 Alderman Norm Vincent mentioned the extensive feedback from the Manchester Fire Department and other city officials regarding safety issues related to the parade. Vincent said that decisions regarding parade input from city officials were not made lightly, although review of parade planning policies later in the evening was worth discussion given the will of the committee.
The matter was discussed again during the new business portion of the BMA full board meeting when Kantor made a motion to change of the name of the Holiday Parade to the Christmas Parade. Ruais said that the naming of the parades was not within the authority of the city, but rather the various privately run committees that organize the parade, stating that only the route was within the purview of the city due to safety issues. Ruais later added that the city does not hold parades due to liability issues.
Nick Carnes, a member of the Holiday Parade Committee, said that the parade represents multiple parades since the parade is not held on Christmas and ultimately is closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas. Carnes did not know when or why the name of the parade was changed to the Holiday Parade, but said there was a vote to keep it as the Holiday Parade this year.
Kantor said she had heard from constituents saying that they were upset at the fact the parade was not called the Christmas Parade. Carnes said he understood that sentiment, but the committee aimed for inclusivity and feared that there may be just as many people upset at the parade not being called the Holiday Parade. Ward 3 Alderman Pat Long says he uses the term Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays, but he agreed with the need for inclusivity and said that he has heard from people stating that sentiment was appreciated.
Kantor also asked if she could join the Holiday Parade Committee, Carnes recommended that she reach out to Manchester Economic Development Office Director Jodie Nazaka. All of the parade committees are open to volunteers wishing to join according to Carnes, and the parades were funded without any money from the city government or the Central Service Business District, which provides amenities to downtown businesses. Currently all of the parades are held downtown.
