Santa will be in Alma on Dec. 18 at 2pm.
He likes to visit the little village as close to Christmas as possible so that he can confirm children’s requests and 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 float returns to the community centre Santa is usually just pulling out to join the parade route along main street Alma.
“Just how Santa will cruise through town each year is top secret,” said local resident Sharon Grose.
“Alma is one of the last parades on Santa’s lists for December. Unlike the big cities that start their parades in mid-November, Alma Optimists like to wait until almost Christmas to invite the jolly old elf to town.
“That way the boys and girls only have to be extra good for a couple of days before Christmas.”
What can you expect to find in a country Santa parade besides the jolly old’ elf? This year there will be brightly-decorated tractors and farm implements in traditional Christmas colours of green and red, volunteer fire department trucks and township snow plows, a troupe of unicyclists and plenty of ponies prancing down Main Street.
This year will also feature a number of heavy horse hitches with wagons pulled by percherons and clydesdales. Most of the village businesses and several area farmers enter floats.
“Santa is always the last person in the parade but folks never know how he will arrive … it is always a surprise,” said Grose.
“Santa has been known to ride or drive in a large variety of machines over the years in Alma, from traditional sleigh to a horse and buggy, combine, high hoe, fire truck and farm wagon.
“One year he was pulled by eight deers – John Deere tractors that is.”
