DRAYTON – Santa Claus will be making an appearance in Drayton on the first Saturday of December, and the Drayton Firefighter’s Association has organized a whole parade to give him a warm welcome.
The parade will start on Elm Street at 7pm on Dec. 6.
It will take its usual route from Elm to Wood Street, then turn on Wellington Street North, then on Spring, then on Edward, leading back to Elm Street.
Anyone interested in participating in the parade, either with a float or walking with a group, is asked to meet at 49 Elm Street between 6 and 6:30pm.
Spectators are asked to bring non-perishable donations for the food bank, that will be collected along the parade route.
They can park in the lot across the road from the fire hall, but must not park at or block the driveway at the fire hall.
Drayton Firefighter’s Association president Brad Anstead said there are typically at least 30 floats in the parade, in addition to people walking.
For Anstead, the fire trucks participating in the parade have always been a favourite, but he said “Everyone always puts in a ton of effort to get ready, and there’s many great floats to see.”
When asked about how they convince Santa to visit Drayton each year, Anstead said “we got really lucky!
“Santa saw the flashing red lights on our fire trucks and thought it was Rudolph.”
And ever since that first visit to Drayton, he said Santa had such a great time with everyone at the parade that he makes sure to come back every year.
After the parade, which is set to last about thirty minutes, Santa will head back to the fire hall for a chance for the kids to meet him up close.
Rotary club members will be at the fire hall too, with drinks and cookies available by donation.
People are also invited to bring their food bank donations to the fire hall after the parade.
Anstead said the Drayton Firefighter’s Association “wants to give a big thank you to the OPP and Public Works for closing the roads, Rotary for refreshments, Kinsmen for the Christmas tree, Drayton Freshmart for the shopping carts, everyone that takes part in the parade, and everyone that comes out to support it.
