Santa will be here on Dec. 23 in the 28th annual Santa Claus parade.
Just how Santa will arrive to cruise through town this year is top secret.
Alma is one of the last parades on Santa’s list for December. Unlike the big cities, which start their parades in mid November, Alma Optimists like to wait until almost Christmas.
That way the boys and girls have to be extra good for only about a week.
The Optimists have boasted for years that Alma has the only Santa Claus parade that is as long as the town.
By the time the lead floats return to the school Santa is usually just pulling out of the school to join the parade route along the main street of Alma.
Last year’s parade featured brightly decorated tractors and farm implements from the traditional Christmas colours of green (John Deere) and red ( Massey Ferguson and International) to a little Kubota orange tractor.
The volunteer fire department trucks and township snow plow also drove the route.
A small marching band provides Christmas music and the three churches, United, Presbyterian, and Alma Bible Chapel sang carols on their floats. The Freemans had miniature horses pulling miniature carts, the Groses rode their palomino horses.
The Sparks, Brownies and Guides decorated a float. Walter Grose has dressed up in his tuxedo and ridden his unicycle in the parade for the past 27 years. His three sons have joined him on their own unicycles over the past few years.
The businesses of Alma all put in a float.
Alma Public School always has a float pulled by a tractor and wagon on loan to the school from the school secretary.
Santa has been known to ride or drive in a variety of modes of transportation, from a traditional cutter or sleigh to a horse and buggy, a combine, a high hoe, and of course a farm wagon being pulled by eight deer – John Deere tractors, that is.
There are always treats given to the children along the parade route and the Optimists serve complementary hot chocolate and cookies to everyone after the parade at Buehler’s Garage – just look for the Alma Optimist booth.
The parade starts at 2pm on the main street.
