Santa parade draws crowds
Event the start of Fort Macleod Christmas
The 36th Annual Santa Claus parade in Fort Macleod saw thousands of people lining the street for a chance to see the ‘Jolliest Canadian’ to ever ride a sleigh — Ol’ Santa Claus himself.
Parade co-ordinator Ashley Nelson said the parade and the crowd it drew shows the profile of the annual Christmas event is growing.
“A lot of groundwork has been done for this parade over the years,” she said. “Everyone is starting to know about us, and we’ve got a good reputation.
“Thousands of people came from all over to see the parade. It’s a big event that draws a lot of people into the town.
Long regarded as the official start to the holiday season in Fort Macleod, Nelson said this is the time of the year when family and friends start making their way home to be together.
“A lot of people start decorating their houses today after the parade,” she said. “They are gearing up for the Christmas season.”
And while the committee is always looking for new members and new ideas, there are some very comforting aspects to the parade that people look forward to every year — marching bands, plenty of music, and, of course, fistfuls of candy for children to chase along the side of the road as the parade goes by.
“It’s tradition,” Nelson said. “Our whole community looks forward to it every year.
“It brings everybody out. There’s lots of activities going on — lots of free events.
“It’s fun to be out in the streets seeing everyone you know, being together and socializing.”
The parade also draws floats and fans from across southern Alberta. Marching bands come from Calgary and Magrath. Floats representing businesses, organizations, and municipal governments take part.
Followed close behind are the visitors who flock to the community every year.
The parade operates on a theme every year. This year’s theme was Canada’s 150th. Participants were invited to interpret what that meant and to celebrate it in their own way.
“It makes it different every year,” said Nelson.
After the parade ends, the committee will take a week off and then get back to work, planning for next year’s parade.
“We’re going to start already figuring out what the theme will be for this year,” Nelson said. And while the committee itself will convene until September, Nelson will be busy hunting for grants and planning for next year.