Blue sky and bright sunshine brought out the bands, floats and bunnies along Queen Street East for the annual Beaches Easter parade Sunday.
Running from Neville Park Boulevard to Woodbine Avenue, the 43rd annual parade featured 87 entrants this year, said parade organizer Sharon Ramsden of the Toronto Beaches Lions.
The Beaches Lions have run the parade since its inception and rely on local sponsors and entry fees to finance the parade.
Most who attend the parade, such as Beach resident Sandy Duggan, said the floats, bands and bunnies have become an east end tradition.
“It’s a great parade, everybody knows everybody. It’s great fun, there are good bands and everybody brings their dog. I’ve been here some years when it’s been snowing,” she said.
Some of the participants are relatively new to the parade, as entrance levels increase yearly. Myasin Planitor, head of Miss Canada Globe Productions, brought her troop of GTA winners to participate for the second consecutive year.
“This has become a yearly tradition for us. The Beaches Lions club is one of the communities we try and participate with,” she said.
When asked when organizers expect to prepare for next year’s parade, Ramsden replied “tomorrow.”