The Santa Shuffle 5K Road Race and the Spirit of New Hampshire Christmas Parade will be held in conjunction with each other on December 7, 2013 on Elm St. The Santa Shuffle will begin at 3:10 PM and the Parade will begin at 4:00 PM. These events will require the following road closures;
Beginning @ 10:00 AM
– Pleasant St will be closed from Elm St to Franklin St
Beginning at 1:00 PM
– Elm St will be closed from Merrimack St to Granite St
Beginning at 3:00 PM
– Elm St will be closed from Lake Ave to Carpenter St
– Webster St will be closed from River Rd to Union St
– The Bridge St Bridge will be Closed
– East bound traffic on the Amoskeag Bridge will be diverted to Canal St
The Santa Shuffle will feature over 4000 runners in Santa suits and is being hosted by Millennium Running. This race benefits the Safe Sports Network, which provides free athletic training services to twelve area high schools. Information about the race can be found at
http://www.millenniumrunning.com/santa
The Spirit of New Hampshire Christmas Parade is being hosted by Intown Manchester and will be kicked off by the Manchester Fire Department’s Boot Drive, which benefits the Union Leader Santa Fund. Information about the parade can be found at
http://www.intownmanchester.com/index.php
and information about the Santa Fund can be found at
http://www.unionleader.com/section/santa
Traffic wishing to cross Elm St is encouraged to travel north to the area of Carpenter St or south to Granite St / Lake Ave.
Since Elm St will be closed alternative north / south routes can be found on Canal St / River Rd on the west side of Elm St and Chestnut St / Pine St / Union St on the east side of Elm St.
Traffic wishing to travel east across the Merrimack River should use the Granite St Bridge or the Queencity Bridge since east bound traffic on the Amoskeag Bridge will be diverted and the Bridge St Bridge will be closed.
If you are planning to watch the parade with your family please help keep the parade route safe by staying to the side of the road way. Please do not encroach into the parade route and keep children out of harms way by keeping them out of the road.
Additionally, Millennium Running has partnered with WMUR and STA to “Stuff a Bus” with toys to benefit Toys for Tots. New, unopened and unwrapped toys can be donated during the event. Information on “Stuff a Bus” can be found at
http://www.millenniumrunning.com/stuff-a-buss-toys-for-tots-wmur-and-millennium-running/9943
