Starting the season
The 38th annual Souris Christmas Festival concludes with annual parade on Saturday
Smiles lit up on children’s faces like Christmas trees on Saturday.
Crowds lined the streets of the seaside town for the 38th annual Souris Christmas Parade.
“It’s a good way to start the Christmas season,” said Danielle Clarey of Montague.
This year’s parade attracted thousands of families and Christmas-lovers alike to the event despite the freezing temperatures.
Clarey said she and her family always go to the Souris parade because it’s during the day.
“It’s nice to see the lights at the (parade) in town but it’s a lot busier and during the day you still have a little bit more time to do stuff and make a day of it,” said Clarey.
Clarey was at the parade with her daughters Sophie, age 9, and Lexi, age 5.
“My favourite thing is when the firetrucks go by,” Lexi said while anticipating the start of the parade.
One of the many firetrucks that stood out in this year’s parade was one led by Sparky the Fire Dog which hauled the Grinch on a throne with a sign saying “Whoville Fire Department”.
Leading the parade was parade marshal Olivia MacNeill, who is Miss Teenage Maritime International 2018.
Christmas music filled the air as the float made by Souris Live drove by with its members playing instruments and singing songs like “Feliz Navidad”.
Many floats had some of Santa’s little helpers walking next to them, handing out candy canes and sweets to the onlooking children.
The final float carried the one and only Santa Claus, the part of the parade many children love the most.
“Santa!” exclaimed five-yearold Madison Hendricken as Santa waved her way.
Madison attended the parade with her dad Mark Hendricken, her grandmother Marjorie, and her two-year-old sister Riley.
Madison was ready with her letter for Santa in hand, which she had made a few weeks earlier but modified that morning to make larger.
Mark said he takes his children to the parade in Souris every year because of the atmosphere.
“The best spot in P.E.I. for a parade is Souris,” he said. “It’s smaller, people know each other around here, and it’s a little quicker too.”
Marjorie added: “It’s so friendly. People, they can be strangers, but they come and say hello to you.”
The parade concluded the town’s annual Christmas Festival, which began Nov. 23 with the Christmas Commotion craft and bake sale.
Other events throughout the artisan, week included Santa pictures, a free skate, a Christmas carnival, the Souris Lions Club Christmas Concert, a tree lighting and more.