Red Sox Mascots Wally and Tessie to March in 52nd VFW Santa Parade

Thomas J. Sullivan, a former chairman and long-time member of the VFW Post 29 parade committee.

Red Sox mascots Wally and Tessie appear during the 52nd Annual VFW Santa Parade.

Red Sox mascots Wally and Tessie appear during the 52nd Annual VFW Santa Parade.

Red Sox mascot Wally and his little sister, Tessie The Green Monster, will participate in this year’s Haverhill Santa Parade.

Thomas J. Sullivan, a former chairman and longtime member of the VFW Post 29 parade committee, previewed the 52nd Annual VFW Santa Parade on Monday night’s WHAV Open Mike Show.

Sullivan, a Haverhill city councilor, said this year’s parade also includes 12 marching bands, 20 to 25 floats and the Hallamore Clydesdales.

“It’s the longest and largest running consecutive event in the city of Haverhill—the start of Haverhill’s holiday tradition,” Sullivan said. His father, the late Haverhill Veterans Services Officer John Sullivan, started the parade in 1964, partly to showcase the VFW’s drum corps.

Sullivan said the parade costs about $45,000 a year—the bulk of the expenses to pay for marching bands.

The parade takes place Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m., along Route 125 from Hunking School in Bradford to Monument Square and concluding at VFW Post 29 on Kenoza Avenue. In the event of inclement weather, the parade takes place the following Saturday at 10 a.m.

The entire Open Mike Show, with video, may be seen at WHAV.net.

One thought on “Red Sox Mascots Wally and Tessie to March in 52nd VFW Santa Parade

  1. tom Sullivan and the outstanding santa parade committee are one of Haverhill’s greatest assets….tom’s father (rip ) john t. Sullivan started the parade committee and tom keeps it going…….