‘It’s just such a happy place’
Barbara Bray just thinks of herself as a big Santa Claus fan. And so she found herself this year among the estimated 500,000 people who lined the streets of Toronto’s downtown core yesterday to watch the 101st annual Santa Claus Parade.
Bray, 76, has been coming to the parade for more than 50 years. Her first trip to see jolly old Saint Nicholas was in 1953 when her eldest son was just a wee thing, she explained from her perch in front of the Sheraton Centre Hotel on Queen St. W. “ I love the parade. I love the tradition of it. I love the bands, the costumes, the people, the excitement and of course, Santa Claus.”
This year, Bray and her family were out in full force to watch the annual kick- off to the holiday season. By her side were two of her children and six of her seven grandchildren. “ I’ve been here in the snow, wind, rain and sleet. I’ve been fortunate I could come every year.”
This year’s parade lived up to all of Bray and her clan’s expectations, with its 24 animated floats, 23 marching bands and 1,500 participants, including dancing candy canes, marching snowflakes, and clowns who joked with children lining the 5.7 kilometre parade route.
“I loved the Cinderella float and Santa Claus,” Bray said. Sunny skies with just a cool nip in the air put everyone in the mood for a brief glimpse of that big jolly guy in a red suit. Many lined up as early as 10 a. m. yesterday morning to get a favourite spot on the parade route.
Parade- goers were treated to a wonderful day — full of sunshine and whimsy, as floats with fairy tale characters went by drawing applause and sighs of delight from the crowd. The marching bands — which included the Top Hat Marching Orchestra and a band from the University of Western Ontario — also wowed the spectators. Traffic in downtown Toronto virtually came to a standstill for most of the afternoon. Bray wasn’t alone in her enthusiasm for the parade. “We saw 100 bands — they’re great,” said 4year- old Caed Douglas Hunter, exaggerating in the way that only a 4- year-old could. “But I didn’t like Barbie or Cinderella,” he said. Caed was really waiting for one thing and one thing alone. “When’s Santa coming?” he asked his dad Clay Hunter, a 41year- old Toronto lawyer.
Then, as if by magic, Santa’s float appeared on the horizon. “ Santa’s coming, Santa’s coming,” said Caed as he scampered to the front of the sidewalk to catch a coveted glimpse of Santa Claus.
Queenie Wilson, a mother of a 1- year- old, has been going to the parade for 10 years. But this year is special because she can share it with her daughter. She just loves the idea of the Santa Claus Parade, said the 33year- old Sheraton Centre worker.
“It’s beautiful. The amazing floats. And the kids — seeing all the happy kids. It’s just such a happy place. Every year it’s good.”