Santa will be in Alma on Dec. 23 at 2pm.
“He likes to visit the little village as close to Christmas as possible so that he can confirm the children’s requests,” said volunteer Sharon Grose. “He wants to see the streets of Alma lined with people.”
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 starting point, Santa is usually just pulling out of the school laneway to join the parade route along the main street of Alma.
“Just how Santa will cruise through town this year is top secret,” noted Grose. “He likes to surprise all the good little boys and girls. Alma’s is one of the last parades on Santa’s lists for December. Unlike the big cities where they start their parades in mid-November, Alma Optimists like to wait until almost Christmas to invite the jolly old elf to town.”
What can you expect to find in a country Santa parade besides Santa Claus? Last year’s parade featured brightly decorated tractors and farm implements in the traditional Christmas colours of green and red, as well as a few others.
The volunteer fire department trucks and township snow plows were decorated, Christmas music was in the air and the local church groups sang carols on their floats. There were palomino ponies prancing down main street and a troupe of unicyclists riding along the streets.
Most of the local businesses put together floats, along with Alma Public School.
Santa always arrives at the end of the parade.
“Santa has been known to ride or drive in a large variety of machines over the years,” said Grose. “From a traditional cutter or sleigh to a horse and buggy, a combine, a high hoeand, of course, a farm wagon pulled by eight deer – John Deere tractors.
“No one knows until the parade begins what Santa will be in – it is always a surprise.”
Parade-goers can enjoy the parade from their car or by standing along the main street.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Peace on Earth.”
Following the parade the Alma United Church’s Celtic Christmas Kanata will take place at 3pm.
Santa will also be attending the Alma Optimists Breakfast at the Alma Community Hall on Dec. 23 from 8:00am-11:00am.
The Alma Optimists will be hosting their annual Christmas holiday swim meet from the Alma Presbyterian Church on Jan. 2 at 1:30pm. Cost is $1 per person, the balance is paid by the Alma Optimist Club. The Optimists organize a bus to take students to the Sports complex in Fergus for the afternoon, providing an outing for kids during the Christmas break.
On Jan. 5, teams can register for the Alma Plunger Plop at 1pm at the Alma Community Hall. The cost is $40 per team of four. The Alma Plunger Plop takes places at the “Alma Dome” in February. All teams must register in advance.
