Published November 26, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Hey kids, guess who’s coming to town Sunday afternoon November 29?
Here’s a few hints… He’s jolly. He has a long, white beard and wears a red suit with white trim. He must like the cold weather because he lives at the North Pole with reindeer and toymaker elves. And most of all, he likes to spread joy to girls and boys all around the world.
Do you have an idea who that might be? If you guessed Santa Claus you’d be right!
Just how will he get to town during a pandemic? Well, the folks at the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce and their elf friends have figured out a way to make the magic happen. They’re all bringing a parade to the neighborhoods of North Reading starting at approximately 11 a.m. at the Reading-North Reading town line on Haverhill Street.
As the parade meanders through town it will take about two hours, give or take.
There’s a map inside today’s Transcript that was carefully crafted with the help of the North Reading Police Department detailing the entire parade route. The officers are asking all the children and their parents to make sure when they line the parade route in their neighborhood to maintain social distancing and to wear their face masks at all times, just like when they are at school.
The North Reading Police Department has been given the awesome assignment of escorting the mini parade, followed by Santa who will be riding either in a convertible (fingers crossed the weather cooperates) or a fancy car. Santa’s car will be followed by several other decorated vehicles from local businesses.
“We have a truck with sponsor logos playing Christmas music too,” added RNR Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Egan, who is thrilled that the Chamber can bring Santa to the neighborhoods in town since townspeople will not be able to gather in a large group at the Town Common for the traditional tree lighting festivities this year. Although that ceremony had to be canceled the common will be lit up at dusk throughout the holiday season.
“The parade will conclude with a fire truck. There will be 14 vehicles total,” Egan said. From time to time the sirens will be heard so people will know the parade is approaching.
Santa’s parade route in North Reading:
• Starting Point A— Haverhill Street at Reading line (go 0.789 mi)
• Turn right onto Chestnut Street (go 0.345 mi)
• Turn right onto Parker Drive (go 0.306 mi)
• Continue onto Marshall Street (go 932 ft)
• Head east on Marshall Street toward Crestwood Road (go 0.360 mi)
• Turn right onto Chestnut Street (go 1,155 ft)
• Turn left onto Park Street (go 1.04 mi)
• Turn right onto MA-62 E (Washington St to Elm St) (go 1.53 mi)
• Turn left onto MacIntyre Drive (go 0.414 mi)
• Turn right onto Tarbox Lane (go 0.320 mi)
• Turn left onto James Millen Road (go 0.446 mi)
• Turn right onto MacIntyre Drive (go 640 ft)
• Continue onto Angel Road (go 0.285 mi)
• Turn left onto Erwin Road (go 394 ft)
• Turn right onto Shasta Drive (go 0.541 mi)
• At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Pickard Lane (go 745 ft)
• Turn right onto Turner Drive (go 981 ft)
• Continue onto Susan Drive (go 673 ft)
• Turn right onto Strawberry Lane (go 0.493 mi)
• Turn right onto Equestrian Drive (go 0.322 mi)
• Continue onto Kings Row (go 0.892 mi)
• Turn left onto Marblehead Street (go 0.397 mi)
• Turn left onto Olde Coach Road (go 0.595 mi)
• Turn left onto Marblehead Street (go 0.651 mi)
• Turn right onto Haverhill Street (go 0.365 mi)
• Turn left onto Anthony Road (go 0.510 mi)
• Turn left onto Peter Road (go 0.574 mi)
• Turn right onto Haverhill Street (go 0.729 mi)
• Turn right onto North Street (go 0.491 mi)
• Turn right onto Wyoming Ave (go 0.273 mi)
• Turn left onto Wagon Drive (go 351 ft)
• Continue straight onto Sunset Ave (go 928 ft)
• Turn right onto Shady Hill Drive (go 0.326 mi)
• Turn left onto Puritan Road (go 1,024 ft)
• Turn left onto Pine Ridge Road (go 0.348 mi)
• Turn right onto North Street (go 0.833 mi)
• Head west on North Street toward MA-28 N (go 269 ft)
• (Point C): Turn right at the 1st cross street onto MA-28 N (Main Street)(go 1,260 ft)
• Turn left onto Burroughs Road (go 0.450 mi)
• Turn right onto Lakeside Blvd (go 0.574 mi)
• Continue onto Comeau Road (go 627 ft)
• Comeau Road turns slightly left and becomes Old Andover Road (go 0.403 mi)
• Turn left onto Virginia Road, Wilm. (go 390 ft)
• Continue onto Old Andover Road (go 945 ft)
• Old Andover Road turns left and becomes Burroughs Road (go 0.725 mi)
• Turn right onto MA-28 S, Pass by McDonald’s (on the left in 1.7 mi) (go 1.94 mi)
• Turn right onto Park Street (go 0.509 mi)
• Turn right onto Southwick Road (go 0.881 mi)
• Turn left onto Gordon Rd/ Linwood Ave/ Summer St and continue to follow Gordon Road (go 0.300 mi)
• Turn left onto Park Street (go 1.72 mi)
• Continue straight onto Freedom Drive (go 0.288 mi)
• Head north on Freedom Drive toward Liberty Lane (go 597 ft)
• Turn left onto Patriot Way (go 0.314 mi)
• Turn left onto Spruce Road (go 0.659 mi)
• Turn left to stay on Spruce Road (go 0.305 mi)
• Turn right onto Central Street (go 0.684 mi)
• Turn left onto MA-62 E (Park Street) (go 0.569 mi)
• Turn left onto Haverhill Street (go 1,178 ft)
• Turn left onto Hill Street (go 676 ft)
• Turn right onto Tower Hill Road (go 0.421 mi)
• Head northwest on Tower Hill Road toward Burnham Drive (go 0.299 mi)
• Turn right onto Eisenhaure Lane (go 0.254 mi)
• Turn right onto Haverhill Street (go 1.61 mi)
• Turn right onto Chestnut Street and right onto Central Street
Point F: End at Ipswich River Park, 15 Central Street.
