The Littleton Christmas Parade (as we know it today) came from a brainstorm back in 1985 by then 27 year old Littleton resident Dennis Hartwell.  He had been traveling on the road as a multi-keyboard/vocals musician and often performed in Laconia, NH.  Once, when there over the Thanksgiving holiday, he saw the Laconia Christmas Parade and thought to himself, “Why does Santa come to Littleton on a fire truck when we could be doing the same thing as Laconia?” 

              

          Littleton had a much smaller population, however community spirit was high and the following year in 1986 Dennis put his idea into action by forming the first Littleton Christmas Parade.  It started small.  The high school band marched, there was a float for Santa, there was a color guard and a fire truck, all escorted by the Littleton Police Department.

           

          Each year the parade grew as an annual tradition.  At one point when Dennis was still on the road performing and couldn’t perform the duties as director, the Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce took it over and Jean McKenna (The Coffee Pot Restaurant) became the director.  Every year, there were more floats and marchers added. 

             

          Then Dennis finally decided to end his traveling career and come back home to where he performed only locally.  He then resumed his job as parade director under the auspices of the Littleton Chamber.  In 2019, the Chamber formally gave the parade back to Dennis.  Over the years, the parade has hosted such special Guests as Miss New Hampshire, America’s Outstanding Teen, Wally the Green Monster of the Boston Red Sox, and more.

              

          In 2024, 66 year old Dennis is still Parade Director.  He formed a 501C6 Non-Profit organization “The Littleton Civic Booster Club” who has become the current official Sponsor/Presenter of the parade.