ELORA – With construction on East Mill Street now completed, the Elora Lions are looking forward to returning to the traditional route for the Santa Claus parade this year.
But with so many downtown businesses lit up this year, Lion Joseph Van den Borre wonders if the lights of the evening parade will even show up.
“I’m not really worried,” he quickly corrected himself. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
The parade begins at 6:15pm on Nov. 30 starting at Sophia Street, heads down Geddes Street to Metcalfe Street, down Metcalfe to Mill Street East, left onto Mill, and wraps up at the east entrance to Bissell Park.
Van den Borre said the parade usually attracts a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people.
“They are six layers deep along the parade route,” Van den Borre said.
The parade features five bands – the Fergus Pipe Band, which starts the parade; the Fergus Brass Band, which brings in Santa; the Centre Wellington District High School Band; the Grand Celtic Pipe Band; and the Guelph Spartans Drum and Bugle Core – which “really spice it up,” Van den Borre said.
There will be floats – last year there were 53 entries. As of publication date there are about 30 floats, trucks and groups that had registered. The club has been working on pacing the parade so there are no gaps or bunching up of floats.
As a result, he has moved from being parade marshal to walking the parade to maintain the pacing.
“I’ve never actually watched the parade,” Van den Borre joked.
The Centre Wellington Food Bank will be collecting food and cash donations, so watch for them during the parade.
This year organizers will begin to put out pylons along the parade route at around 4:30pm to cordon off on-street parking.
This will allow children to see the parade better as views won’t be blocked by parked cars.
Floats begin amassing at 5:15pm on Sophia Street. If you haven’t pre-registered, you can just show up and be assigned a place.
But things get underway promptly at 6:15pm, Van den Borre said.
Those who’d like to volunteer can email eloralions@gmail.com, but volunteers can just show up as well, he said.
“We’ll always utilize them.”
Wightman will be recording the parade, so if you miss it live, there’s still an opportunity to watch it.
“We’re hoping for a clear night, about -1 degrees,” he said. “Although if it’s cloudy with light snowfall, it’s absolutely magical.”
