ARTHUR – Even if there’s no snow in the forecast, people just might get to see some snow of sorts at the Arthur Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 30.
That’s because of the theme of this year’s event.
“This year’s theme is Snow Globe Christmas,” said OPTIMRS Club member Shawna Lougheed.
“We do a different theme every year,” she said, noting the club has been running the parade for more than 50 years. “Somehow we come up with a new theme for every year.”
This year will be the club’s 54th annual Santa Claus Parade, and Loughheed’s ninth year organizing the event.
She said the theme gives participants something around which to decorate their floats. Not everybody sticks to the theme, but “most floats try and do what the theme is,” Lougheeds said.
Others focus on their lighting, as the parade is an after-dark event, she said.
It starts at 7pm at the Arthur Public School.
“That’s where all our floats come to line up,” said Lougheed.
It will make its way down the main street of Arthur toward the Royal Bank.
Pre-registration is not required. Parade entrants can show up at the school parking lot any time after 6pm, and organizers on site will help to line them up with appropriate spacing to start the event.
Because there’s no pre-registration, Lougheed could not say how many entries the parade might attract, but said typically most local sports teams and local businesses take part. Even some families put in floats, she said.
“We’re very lucky.”
First in line will be the firefighters with their truck, the traditional leaders of the parade. The OPTIMRS will follow with their banner, and mix of floats will follow.
“We collect food for the Arthur Food Bank during the parade,” Lougheed said, emphasizing the importance of bringing along something non-perishable to support the cause.
Firefighters and food bank volunteers do the collection, usually toward the beginning of the parade, she said.
Santa, of course, will be the finale, riding in his sleigh atop a float sponsored by the Arthur Lions Club, which has been in charge of this key float since the parade began, said Lougheed.
“He comes right from the North Pole to Arthur,” she said of the jolly man in red.
This part of the event is, no doubt, a highlight for the crowds who line the street to watch the spectacle, but for Lougheed, the crowds themselves are one of the highlights.
“I love seeing the smile on everybody’s faces, and I say ‘everybody,’ because it’s not just children,” she said.
Lougheed drives the OPTIMRS’ float, so gets to take in the parade from that vantage point, and said it’s something that makes her happy to be a part of.
“I just love Christmas. Christmas is my favourite thing,” she said.
More festive fun
The parade is only one part of the Christmas-themed activities that will be on offer in the village of Arthur on the last weekend of November.
On Nov. 29 there is a whole schedule of events, including free children’s crafts from 9:30am to 2:30pm and a community baking contest at 3:30pm at the Arthur Curling Club; free public skating from 4 to 6pm at the Arthur arena; and charity hockey games in Arthur and Mount Forest at 6:30pm.
Pre-registration is required for the children’s crafts and the baking contest.
At the hockey games, non-perishable foods are being collected for the food bank or unwrapped toys for the Arthur Lions Community Christmas Hamper Program.
Then on parade day, there will be an outdoor Christmas market from 9am to 2pm on Charles Street East and Georgina Street; a Community Christmas Bake Sale from 10am to 2pm at St. John’s Parish Hall; a gingerbread house decorating contest at the church; a family scavenger hunt, and more.
Details of the events can be found online at christmastimeinarthur.ca.
Lougheed said a tree lighting ceremony will take place just before the parade at 6pm at the Arthur cenotaph. Music will be provided by the Checkley Family.
And following the parade, people are invited to head to the fire hall to warm up with hot dogs, supplied by the firefighters, and hot chocolate and Timbits provided by the OPTIMRS Club.
But the bigger draw will probably be the chance to get a little closer to the jolly old elf.
“After the parade, Santa actually goes back to the fire hall,” said Lougheed. “So you can meet Santa and give him your wish list.”
