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Thousands welcomed St. Nick back to Brantford

ChristmasThousands welcomed St. Nick back to Brantford

Over 10,000 Brantford residents came together along Dalhousie Street for the return of the Santa Claus parade on Saturday, November 26.

The parade began at Stanley and Dalhousie Streets before making its way downtown towards Harmony Square for the Santa Clause Parade After Party.

Children played tag along the chilly streets while some stayed bundled in their spots eating snacks as they patiently waited for Santa to arrive.

Jacoby Yang, 6 and Joshua Yang, 3, stayed warm and enjoyed snacks while waiting for the Santa Claus Parade to begin on Saturday, November 26. Photo by Kimberly de Jong.

Grandbridge Energy led the pack of 94 floats while Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis followed shortly behind and the Brantford Foodbank collected donations from attendees.

A couple of volunteers from the Brantford Food Bank collect donations during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.
Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps entertain the crowd during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.
Members of the Navy League Cadet Corps perform Christmas Carols during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.

“We had a diversity of floats,” said Jennifer Middleton, Community Events Coordinator for the City of Brantford. “There was a lot of new entries, a lot of existing entries, and there were some walking groups, some marching bands and some with tractor trailers.” 

Brantford-Brant parliament members MP Larry Brock and MPP Will Bouma were both present and could be seen smiling and waving to the crowd from their vehicles.

Parade-goers and participants were “clowning” around during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.
Members of the Rotary Clowns for Kids were all smiles while participating in the Santa Clause Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.

Brantford firefighters, paramedics and police joined in the parade as well as a variety of local businesses and organizations who decorated their floats with colourful lights and music.

MC Concrete and Constructions was one of 94 floats in this year’s Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, November 26.
Representatives from Triple Arts Academy stop along the route and pose for a photo during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.

Vendors walked up and down the streets filling the air with the smell of popcorn and cotton candy while some sold light up foam batons to residents.

Attendees followed the end of the parade into Harmony Square for the after party where they could find plenty of festivities for the whole family.

A group of participants wish parade-goers a Merry Christmas during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.

“The most exciting part was the Christmas tree lighting and Santa,” Middleton said. “The Grinch was also here along with a character princess and a mini ferris wheel. We had cotton candy available and hot chocolate provided by Tim Horton’s. Kids could get their photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus before sending off their letters to the North Pole.”

The man of the hour finally arrived.. Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Santa Claus!

The parade came together in six weeks after JCI Brantford (formerly Jacycees Brantford) announced earlier this year that they would be unable to independently operate the parade. The City of Brantford worked together alongside Grandbridge Energy to help the event return for the first time since 2019.

A couple of youngsters from Six Nations Agriculture Society wave to the crowd during the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.
Brantford Girls Baseball was one of 94 groups and organizations that took part in the Santa Claus Parade in Brantford on Saturday, November 26.

Middleton was happy to see the community coming together to help make spirits bright.

“The entire city pulled together to pull this off, so all the departments within the city took on a piece of the parade to make sure that it came together to deliver what we gave today,” Middleton said. “It was not a one man show, it was the entire municipality that pulled this off.”

A family gets their photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the Parade After Party on Saturday, November 26.

The large turnout was one for the books and even impressed the big man himself.

“Based on Santa’s words it was the best turn out he’s ever seen, it’s probably double the amount that was here in 2019,” Middleton said.

Doug Hunt aka “Doug the Great” was in attendance and spreading cheer during the Parade After Party on Saturday, November 26.
The official lighting of the Christmas Tree in Harmony Square kicked off the Parade After Party on Saturday, November 26.

If you missed this festive event, Paris will be hosting their parade on Saturday, December 3 while St. George and Burford will be hosting their parades on Saturday, December 10.

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