Holt Ave. neighborhood holiday tradition enters fourth year

MANCHESTER, N.H. – A local holiday tradition returned on Sunday as over 200 neighbors and friends gathered at Saint Pius X Parish Community Center for a neighborhood Christmas block party.

Now in its fourth year, the party was originally about a block south on Holt Avenue, but last year the party migrated to Saint Pius and invited parishioners of the Saint Pius X community along with residents in the Holt Avenue neighborhood.

Event organizer Daniel Mowery said the decision to hold the event here again this year aims to continue bringing the people of Saint Pius X and Holt Avenue together, beyond the significant overlap that already exists.

“We’ve moved it here to bring the communities back together as they should be,” said Mowery.

Father John Carroll, interim priest of Saint Pius X until Reverend Father Georges de Laire returns from a family emergency in France, was impressed with the turnout.

“I think it’s great for the church and the community coming together, I think that it’s what we need to do since our world is in such a state, people need to come together, put their differences aside and celebrate the Advent Christmas season because that’s what it’s all about,” said Carroll.

Liz Forand has attended all four editions of the party, and brought her children and nieces and nephews to see Santa and the Grinch and all of the other holiday festivities. She believes there are both pros and cons to the different location and the event being held inside rather than the outside community party that it once was.

“It’s definitely warmer,” she said. “It’s a different vibe for sure.”

Money was raised at the event for the Manchester Fire Department Station 8, located just 1.5 miles down the road from Saint Pius X. This year, that amount came out to $600. Over three dozen blankets for the homeless were also collected. Two boxes of toys and $120 in cash were raised by the Toys for Tots program at the event as well for needy children in the area.