ISLAND FARMS SANTA’S LIGHT PARADE
Today, starting at 5 p.m. on Government Street
The festive seasons in Victoria kicks off with a Santa parade today, promising all the seasonal cheer of putting on a Michael Bublé Christmas album and trimming the tree. The Island Farms Santa’s Light Parade begins at 5 p.m. on Belleville Street at the B.C. legislature and continues along Government Street past the Inner Harbour, through the shopping district and past City Hall and Centennial Square, ending at Chatham Street.
Rob Galey of Galey Farms is at the helm of two entries, including the Island Farms float that will carry Santa.
Last year’s joint effort combining Galey Farms and Stages Dance Company is back this year, with dancers aglow in LED lights performing a Polar Express piece between a Galey Farms candy-factory-themed float and a second float featuring an ice sculpture.
Santa will bring up the rear, waving and ho-ho-hoing to boys and girls. He’s scheduled to switch on the lights in “Christmas Square” in Centennial Square at 7 p.m. He also will hand out free milk and cookies and pose for photos.
Christmas Square, replete with a Ferris wheel, will be open from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at Centennial Square with music, dance and children’s shows— plus lots to eat from food trucks.
The parade, in its 37th year, switched from a day to nighttime event in 1998, thanks to the efforts of the late parade organizer Ron Butlin. It’s billed as Canada’s largest lighted parade, and this year includes 73 entrants. Of the approximate 15 new additions, one boasts it will come with more than 80,000 lights, said Kelly Kurta, executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society.
As has become a parade tradition, donations of money and non-perishable food will be collected from the crowd and at Centennial Square for the Mustard Seed Street Church.
Last year’s parade brought in about 1,632 kilograms of food and more than $1,000. Donations are collected by volunteers who walk along the parade route or they can be dropped off in bins in Christmas Square. This year, Island Savings Credit Union is providing volunteers to assist the Mustard Seed crew.
“We are very grateful for the donations we receive from this parade and through the year and we can’t do what we do without the help of the community,” said Mustard Seed interim executive director Derek Pace.
Canned proteins and soups and stews, rice and lentils, and boxed goods such as crackers, are all on the list of most-needed items.
Frozen turkeys or donations in lieu are also welcome at the Mustard Seed headquarters at 625 Queens Ave. In November and December, the food bank typically raises 70 per cent of its annual funds and 40 per cent of its annual food donations.
Stacy Ross and Jeff King of CHEK News will host live coverage of the parade from the lawn of the Empress Hotel starting at 4:52 p.m., broadcast on CHEK television and live-streamed on CHEK’s Facebook page. It will be re-broadcast on Christmas Day beginning at 5 p.m. on CHEK. Victoria Buzz will also livestream the parade on its Facebook page with former radio hosts Lisa Marshall and Michael Forbes and Buzz’s Nicole Bentham.