The annual Parade of Lights on Chocorua Lake is a Labor Day weekend tradition that began in the 1960s, initiated by Sylvia Bowditch Newson, Sam’l Newsom, and friends, and inspired by an element of some Japanese festival celebrations. Sam’l’s son Sam Newsom shares his recollection of this tradition that brightens the end of the summer season on the lake.
The parade of lights was always the perfect way to close every wonderful summer in Chocorua.
I got involved in the tradition around the late sixties or early seventies (I am guessing a little on these dates) with both my parents as well as the Wellinghursts, Wayletts and Moots from the little lake side. The first few years my father, Sam’l, built our lights using a cage of chicken wire with wax paper wrapped around it and a candle stuck on a nail in the center. We placed these lights on the various seats of both the canoe and the row boat.
As all boys can attest, a few candles are fine, but a lot of candle power is much better. So as the years progressed the fire power increased and luckily gallon milk jugs came into use and were easy to find.
We progressed from a few on the boat to a lot on the boat as well as a long board that we towed behind with many more milk jugs nailed on to it. The milk jugs were key as they did not take on water as the old chicken wire lanterns had. As the years went by and our canoe aged we had to save one milk jug for bailing. Later on some ingenious souls outfitted their boats with electric Christmas lights strung up on tall poles.
The Parade was preceded by a pot luck dinner and plenty of libations in the Grove, often calling for long johns to be worn. There was always singing and I especially remember the deep melodic voice of Dick Gill flowing across the lake followed by the voices of the rest of the picnickers. As the sun set the boats would take to the water and my mother, Sylvia, amongst others, would mimic the cry of the loons. The water was calm and there was a peace that sett led over the place as the lights and stars came out and the lake grew calm.
As the tradition grew so did the flotilla. It seemed that most of the houses around the lake participated one time or another, in addition to boats brought in just for this event. Many times we would paddle past the first point with almost a continuous line of boats and candles from there back to the beach. The traffic on Rt 16 would slow down to watch the lights reflecting in the water and to listen to the voices coming from the Grove. It was a magical night. During one Parade the Northern Lights put on a spectacular show trying to out do the parade, but instead it just solidified our reason why Chocorua has, and will always will have, a special place in our hearts.
All images: Parade of Lights. Photos: Betsy Whitman Memishian