Reverse holiday parades on weekend well attended
Windsor Parade Corp.'s concept of drive-thru “reverse” Santa Claus parades proved to be a big hit again on Saturday night — with hundreds of vehicles lining up for the Amherstburg edition of the free holiday-themed event.
In a reverse parade, the floats and parade participants stay in place while spectators drive by.
With the promise of better organization than the Kingsville edition that happened Nov. 21, the Amherstburg route took place at 6 p.m. on Pike Road from Howard Avenue westward to the Libro Centre Recreation Complex.
Those patient enough to endure the hour-long wait were treated to sights and sounds such as illuminated festive floats, bagpipers and drummers, giant Rudolph and Nutcracker inflatables, flag-waving horse-riders, a fire juggler, Christmas pirates, Santa's Workshop, the Windsor Spitfires and plenty more.
As is customary, the finale was the iconic couple themselves: Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Officers of the Amherstburg detachment of the Windsor Police Service ensured traffic flowed smoothly. No issues were reported.
At the same time as the Windsor Parade Corp.'s event in Amherstburg, a similar event took place on Point Pelee Drive, with the waiting line of vehicles stretching into Leamington town limits.
The Point Pelee event was organized through the co-operation of the Leamington District Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Leamington and Point Pelee National Park.
Leamington's Mr. and Mrs. Claus had their own sleigh and North Pole, upon which they waited for vehicles inside the grounds of Point Pelee National Park.
The Windsor Parade Corp. holds its final reverse Santa Claus parade for the season in Windsor Saturday.
Made possible through the sponsorship of the City of Windsor, the Windsor edition of the event will take place on the St. Clair College campus, 2000 Talbot Rd., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Attendees are asked to have patience and be prepared to wait. Only those in motor vehicles will be admitted. For more information, visit windsorparade.org.