Santa Claus Parade wows crowd despite miserable weather

Wind, snow fail to deter large turnout

Santa Claus
The big man in red comes to town and ends the 2014 Santa Claus Parade on the last float. Xuyun Zeng/Toronto Observer

Freezing temperatures, cloud cover, flurries and wind did not deter the large crowd at Sunday’s Santa Claus Parade.

In its 110th year, the parade had over 30 floats and 21 bands along the six-kilometre route that started at Christie Pits and ended at the St. Lawrence Market.

“It was packed to the rafters,” parade spokesperson Alfred Iannarelli said.

Crowds saw a wide range of floats such as Corner Gas, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Santa’s float, along with groups such as McMaster University, University of Toronto and Canada Post, which collects letters for Santa. Most floats were new this year, Iannarelli said.

“I’d say 80 per cent of them were new,” Iannarelli said.

Newcomer Tony Zeng who just moved from Missouri enjoyed himself at the parade.

“This is my first time experience watching the Santa Claus Parade,” Zeng said. “I was inspired by Christmas spirit and remained cheerful with thousands of spectators, although I was standing under the cold temperatures with light snow.”

The Holly Jolly Fun Run that started half-an-hour before the parade went “extremely well”, and it went off without a hitch, Iannarelli said.

About this article

By: Xuyun Zeng
Copy editor: Jeremy Hon
Posted: Nov 19 2014 10:27 am
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Filed under: Arts & Life
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