Saint John will get a visit from the man in the big red suit this weekend.
The 67th Annual Santa Claus Parade gets underway Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
Organizer Blaine Harris says residents can catch the parade on Saturday night as it travels from Union Street to Wellesley Avenue.
“The theme of the parade this year is ‘Christmas Around the World’ so we’re hoping that some of the entries have come up with some clever floats. We have 62 entries this year, and they’re going to put on a big show for the kids and the kids at heart on Saturday night,” he said.
“The high schools really put a lot of work into their floats. Xerox has a huge float coming in. I just expect you’re going to see a whole lot of shimmer and the kids are going to have a whole lot of glee.”
Harris says there will be groups collecting donations along the parade route ten minutes before it starts.
“NBCC is collecting winter collectibles for the Boys and Girls Club, so any kind of hats, mittens, scarves, jackets, snow pants. Local 18, with the City of Saint John Outside Workers are collecting for the food bank, and Canada Post will be collecting letters for Santa,” he said.
Harris, administrator of the parade, says with floats, marching bands, and thousands of spectators, safety is a big priority this year.
“Don’t run out into the streets. If you have children, keep a very close eye on them so that they don’t go onto the roads at all. We’re taking all the proactive steps. All the buffers along the sides of the floats will all be wearing safety vests. We don’t want any of the children at all to come onto the road,” he said.
Parade Route and Parking
Harris also reminds people that on-street parking in the uptown corridor and along the parade route will be prohibited after 4 p.m. Saturday, so be sure to move your cars.
“It is a matter of public safety,” said Sergeant Mike McCaig, Head of the SJPF Traffic Division. “The 2018 Santa Claus Parade had some vehicles parked in spaces where young children were too close to the vehicles and floats in the parade,” adds Sergeant McCaig.
“Members of the SJPF certainly do not want to be the Grinch but in the best interest of the public, officers will be strictly enforcing the no parking rule along the parade route and vehicles will be towed if necessary, adds Sergeant McCaig.
The parade will leave Crown Street at Union Street near the Boys and Girls Club.
It’ll turn down Sydney Street, go around King’s Square and down King Street. From there, it will travel up St. Patrick Street, continuing onto Main Street North, turn onto Landsdowne Avenue, and ending with a right on Wellesley Avenue.
All of the streets mentioned above will be closed during the parade.
As well, all five lanes of Crown Street, between Paul Harris Street and Union Street will be closed to all traffic from 3 p.m. until approximately 6:30 p.m.
“With the parade on a Saturday, many of the lots in Saint John are made available for parking so the SJPF is encouraging vehicles to utilize these spaces for everyone’s safety and to avoid the inconvenience of having your vehicle towed,” says Sergeant McCaig.
More information about the parade can be found online.
