The first Santa Parade of the area is all set for today in Owen Sound.
It is the 64th annual Kiwanis Santa parade – the second longest running parade in Ontario – next to Toronto.
Organizer Cheryl Govier says thousands of people watch the parade.
The parade starts at 10 AM and heads south down 2nd Ave east runs down 8th street east then turns on third avenue east.
Govier says its best to head to the parade route by 9:30 AM and the parade runs a few hours.
Govier adds this years theme is a prelude to the winter Olympic games – so it will be interesting to see how people tie the theme into their floats.
72 entries will be running the route – 4 bands.
Santa will be the big highlight – and Govier says he flys in to Owens Sound that morning – being too busy to stay overnight.
The volunteers dedicate upwards of 500 hours towards the organization of the parade.
The salvation army is looking to collect 12-hundred tins of apple juice along the parade root for their Christmas hampers, as well as any non perishable food items.
Govier says there will also be Canada post collecting letters to Santa – and kids are invited to city hall after the parade to meet the jolly old elf and get treat bags.
The history of the parade goes back more than half a century when the wife of a Kiwanis member thought the city could do a miniature version of the big Toronto Santa parade.
So the member J. Irvin Brown brought the idea to the club and the club agreed they should do something to give back to the community – so the parade was born.