Annual NorthEaster Parade is a longtime El Paso tradition
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As the annual NorthEaster parade returns to an in-person event this year, I took the opportunity to look up some history on the parade.
Although a March 23, 1986, article reported that the second annual Northeaster parade was scheduled for the following Saturday, I did not find any mention on the inaugural parade in 1985.
Leon Metz was the grand marshal for the second parade, which was a sanctioned Texas Sesquicentennial event and a fundraiser for United Way.
The parade started at 10:30 a.m. at Northgate, traveled Diana Drive to Tetons Drive and on to Sunrise Centre.
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Hundreds see second annual parade
From the El Paso Times, March 30, 1986: Hundreds of El Pasoans lined the streets of Diana and Tetons for the second annual “Northeaster” parade Saturday.
They cheered the potluck mix of cars, floats beauty queens, political candidates, horses, clowns, motorcycle riders and many other parade entries.
City Rep. Pat Haggerty appeared as a pink, floppy-eared Easter bunny, tossing candies to delighted children along the route from Northgate to Sunrise Center.
Third NorthEaster parade
Col. Karl E. Wallrath, German air force commandant at Fort Bliss, was grand marshal of the third parade.
Miss El Paso Jamie Archer waved to the crowd, as did the runoff opponents for city representative in the Northeast district, Mike Shenk and Jethro Hills.
The streets weren’t packed with onlookers; hundreds of people found plenty of elbow room along most of the route.
By 1989, there were 114 parade entries and about 5,000 spectators. Ha’aheo, a Polynesian dance troupe, won best float award.
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Parade changes course
The sixth annual parade had to change course when organizers were unable to get in touch with Sunrise Centre management after six weeks of trying.
The parade started at Hercules Avenue and went north on Diana to Northpark Mall.
The 10th annual parade was a tribute to the unity of the Northeast community. Organizers were hoping to top the previous year's 10,000 spectators and $1,400 raised.
In 1998, the parade had jumped to the 19th annual Northeaster Parade. The crowd was estimated at more than 15,000 and a man was charged with making terroristic threats and jailed for allegedly threatening Mayor Carlos Ramirez at the parade.
The NorthEaster Parade website says the first parade was held in 1978, part of the Northeast World Jubilee, sponsored by the Transmountain Optimists, which ran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.
An April 21, 2000, article on the 21st annual parade mentioned that the first parade’s route in 1979 was around Northgate Center’s parking lot. This year the parade is named the NorthEaster Parade.
In 2001, the parade broke new ground by adding a sponsor. Southwestern Bell donated $2,500. The parade was dedicated to the memory of Richard Haggerty, the patriarch of one of El Paso’s prominent political families.
The Haggerty family was selected to be the grand marshals of the parade.
In 2007, an unexpected chill kept many from attending the parade. The organizers contemplated canceling the event but decided to forge on.
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Not quite hail, not quite snowflakes
Amy Adair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, said it probably was a weather phenomenon known as "gropple" that surprised El Paso. "It's not quite hail and not quite snowflakes. They're soft ice pellets that usually happens with a thunderstorm," Adair said.
2012 saw a route change for the parade. The parade route ran from Hercules Avenue to the transit terminal near Dyer Street.
In 2015, the parade committee voted to change the name to the Annual Transmountain Optimist NorthEaster Parade. They also added a website, Facebook page and Instagram account.
The 2019 parade route turned right on Hondo Pass and ended at Nations Tobin Park.
As with so many other events, pandemic concerns forced the cancellation of the 2020 parade.
The parade returned in 2021, virtually. The theme was "Back to the Future." The parade aired on local television. El Paso County commissioners declared April 3, 2021, as NorthEaster Parade Day.
Parade returns as an in-person event
This year, the 44th Annual Transmountain Optimist NorthEaster Parade organizers are excited to return to an in-person event, which was set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday starting at Diana Drive.
"Registrations are pouring in. We have been through the COVID war and made it through the other side. Everyone is excited to get back out there," said Mando Martinez, executive director of the parade.
Martinez said the parade is expected to have more than 100 entries with clowns, car clubs, political candidates, church organizations, the Fort Bliss band, school groups and the Easter Bunny. This will be the 11th year the parade is sponsored by Mimbela Contractors.
For more Northeaster Parade history, visit northeasterparade.com.
Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.con or 915-546-6179.
NorthEaster Parade grand marshals
1986: Leon Metz
1987: Col. Karl E. Wallrath
1989: David Lee, new UTEP football coach
1991: State Rep. Pat Haggerty
1993: Margie Velez, Sgt. Jason Seery
1994: Lt. Col. Weldon Fleharty, Staff Sgt. Roel Garcia Garcia
1995: 3rd Calvary Regiment, Nancy Comstock as honorary grand marshal
1996: Diablos owner Jim Paul
1997: U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes
1999: Past recipients of the Northeast family and Person of the Year honors
2000: The Easter Bunny
2001: The Haggerty family
2002: State Rep. Pat Haggerty
2006: Arves Jones
2008: Bobby Bowling
2010: David Jones
2011: Mayor John Cook
2012: John Mimbela Sr.
2013: Stanley Jobe
2014: City Rep. Carl Robinson, Kayla Thornton guest of honor
2015: State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh
2016: Jennifer Han
2017: El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser
2018: Sheriff Richard Wiles
2019: El Paso Rhinos hockey team
2020: No parade
2021: Joe Pickett
2022: Dr. Richard Teschner
Source: Staff research
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Annual NorthEaster Parade is longtime El Paso tradition
