Santa Claus is coming to town ... Sunday
Annual parade attracts tens of thousands of yuletide enthusiasts young, old and in between
FIVE THINGS
The coffee cups are red, the seasonal jingles on an endless loop, and it’s that magical time once again for the Jolly Old Elf to sled into Vancouver.
The 2018 Telus Vancouver Santa Claus Parade returns on Sunday, Dec. 2, to the delight of children and big kids alike. For those marking it in their calendars, there are a few things to note. You will be sharing the downtown space with tens of thousands of other yule enthusiasts. Each year, the event attracts more than 300,000 spectators.
So here are five things to know before you go:
1 WHERE DOES IT START?
The parade starts at noon at Georgia and Broughton streets, and travels east on Georgia Street to Howe Street. It will then turn south on Howe and finish at Howe and Davie streets. Given the enormous volume of people and vehicles cramming into the downtown core, organizers advise taking transit if you don’t have your own reindeer, of course. All the events are in walking distance from the Burrard, City Centre, Granville and Waterfront Sky Train stations.
2 ARE THERE ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES ON SANTA CLAUS PARADE DAY?
You bet. Starting at 8:30 a.m., there is Breakfast with Santa at the Fairmont Hotel at 900 W. Georgia Street. There will be a breakfast buffet and meet-and-greet with Santa before the parade. The buffet will include a chef-attended pancake and waffle station, a hot chocolate station and a decorate-your-own gingerbread cookie station. This event costs $40 per adult and $20 per child, and you’ll need to make a reservation by calling 604-647-0517.
If that event is out of your budget, there are free family activities as well. From 10 a.m. to noon you can visit Christmas Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Georgia Street. Activities include face painting, kids crafts and a letters to Santa station. The parade at noon is also free of cost.
After the parade, there are free photos with Santa, along with hot chocolate and cookies at Telus Garden at 510 W. Georgia St.
3 WHAT SHOULD I WEAR/ BRING TO THE EVENT?
Organizers advise dressing in warm and cosy layers, and bringing rain gear just in case. They would prefer you brought rain jackets with hoods instead of umbrellas, which block views of the parade. Bring chairs to watch the parade, but please don’t move or occupy someone else’s chair.
While it’s a good idea to bring some hot chocolate, organizers are reminding spectators to please leave your weed at home.
The Santa Claus Parade is also a fundraiser for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, so spectators are encouraged to bring a monetary or non-perishable food donation. The best food items for donation are canned fish, canned chicken or turkey; canned black beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans; whole grains and whole-wheat pasta; and canned vegetables and fruit.
Look for volunteers in yellow ponchos and Santa hats. They will collect the donations at the parade. Alternatively, you can drop them off at the Food Bank tent at Christmas Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The CKNW Kids’ Fund will also be collecting cash donations to help children with special needs.
4 WHERE IS A GOOD PLACE TO WATCH THE PARADE?
If you have small children, you may want to avoid the area around the Art Gallery to watch the parade. The crowds tend to be heaviest here because of the events at Christmas Square. Even if you are running late, organizers say you can usually find a good spot near the start of the parade or at the end. Some people set up their chairs early and go for a coffee, but you don’t need to do that to still enjoy the parade.
5 WHAT HAPPENS IF I FORGET SOMETHING AT THE PARADE?
If you lose something, hopefully someone will turn it in. If you forget an item or find someone else’s belongings on the ground, go to the parade information tent located at Christmas Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery. You will also be able to claim an item by phoning 604-6463591 or send an email to vansantaparade@pacegroup.com.