Santa set to parade through Niagara-on-the-Lake
When it comes to planning a parade, organizers behind Niagara-on-the-Lake’s annual Christmas parade know it’s important to give the people what they want.
And what do the people want? They want music.
“Everyone has made it clear they love bands in the parade so last year we endeavoured to give them lots of bands,” said Bob Cheriton, media relations person with the parade committee.
“This year, we have even more. We’ve really set the bar high in terms of number of bands participating.”
To start, all of the ones that participated last year are back, including the Streetsville Pipe and Drum band, E.L. Crossley and Ridley College marching bands, and Top Hat Marching Band. A personal favourite of Cheriton’s, the York Lions Steel Band, will also be making a return.
“When you hear those steel drums, it makes you think of warmer climates, which is always nice,” he said. “It kind of takes you away for a moment.”
There will be two new bands this year, the drum line from Notre Dame College School in Welland and Hitmen, a band from Rochester, N.Y.
“Basically, for every 10 entries in the parade, you’ve got one band. There will be a lot of the songs and sounds of Christmas this year,” said Cheriton.
He’s been a volunteer committee member for 17 years and said this year’s parade is the largest one he’s seen, with more than 100 entries registered.
“And there are always some last-minute additions — always,” he said.
The parade, Cheriton said, will be a typical Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade, the kind people have come to expect over the years.
“It will be a great reflection of our community,” he said, noting there will be many schools, businesses, community groups, and the fire department participating. “Kids love it when the sirens go off.”
There will also be plenty of dogs, horses and clowns walking the parade route.
Saturday’s parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of King and Centre streets. It will make its way along King to Castlereagh, down Castlereagh to Wellington, from Wellington to Byron/Prideaux, along Byron/Prideaux to Simcoe Street, up Simcoe to Queen and then along Queen Street to King Street, finishing at the cenotaph.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro will be collecting non-perishable food donations along the parade route and representatives from Canada Post will be collecting letters to Santa Claus.