Here are some details on upcoming Santa Claus parades in western Newfoundland:
Corner Brook
• Sponsor: Corner Brook Kinsmen Club
• Date: Dec. 7
• Theme: Christmas Stories, Old and New
• Forming up: Lineup starts at intersection of Cpl. Pinksen Dr. and Grenfell Dr. at 2 p.m. Departs at 5 p.m.
• Route: The parade will start an finish at the civic centre. A sensory friendly zone is set up from the start of the parade until it reaches O’Connell Drive. Kinsmen advises no throwing of candy from floats as a safety precaution.
Deer Lake
• Sponsor: Deer Lake Fire Rescue
• Date: Dec. 7
• Theme: “Hooray, Santa is on his way”
• Forming up: Elwood School, at 4:30 p.m. Departing at 5 p.m.
• Route: The parade starts and stops at Elwood School, as in years past. A sensory friendly zone is set up along Morey Avenue.
• Social: Everyone is invited to come back to the fire hall after the parade for refreshments, tea/coffee hotdogs and timbits.
Stephenville
• Sponsor: Bay St. George Kinsmen Club
• Date: Dec. 7
• Theme: Ugly Sweater Christmas
• Forming up: The Ramp at 5:45 p.m. for a 6:15 departure.
• Route: Down Carolina Avenue onto Main Street, left at West Street to St. Stephen’s Parish Centre.
• Social: Santa Claus will be handing out candies to children at the parish centre and awards for best category floats will be announced.
Stephenville Crossing
• Sponsor: Stephenville Crossing Lions Club
• Date: Dec. 7
• Forming up: St. Michael’s School between 10 and 11 a.m. for an 11 a.m. departure
• Route: All around town and back to St. Michael’s School.
• Social: Santa Claus will be handing out candies at a children’s party in the school cafeteria, then visiting a special person in the community, visiting seniors at Emile Benoit Congregate House and the Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre with treats for residents.
Cox's Cove
• Sponsor: Cox's Cove Fire Department
• Date: Dec. 7
• Forming up: Floats will be asked to line up on top of the big hill.
• Route: The parade will leave from that location at 11 a.m. and will end off at the community hall.
St. George’s
• Sponsor: Town of St. George’s and St. George’s Fire Department
• Date: Dec. 8
• Forming up: Brake’s Road at 5:30 p.m. for a 6 p.m. departure.
• Route: From Brake’s Road in Shallop Cover, down Main Street, up Steel Mountain Road and back down to Main Road on to Seal Rocks and loop back to the Siki Bennett Memorial Stadium.
• Social: Santa Claus will be handing out treats to the children at the stadium.
Irishtown-Summerside
• Sponsor: H.I.S. Fire Rescue
• Date: Dec. 8
• Theme: Choose your own theme
• Forming up: Floats will line up in Hughes Brook at 4 p.m. and will depart from the Hughes Brook Town Hall at 5 p.m.
• Route: Starting from the Hughes Brook Town Hall, heads towards Meadows, concluding at the intersection by the Meadows Fire Hall.
Humber Arm South
• Sponsor: Humber Arm South Recreation Committee
• Date: Dec. 8
• Theme: Hometown Christmas – Let’s Light It Up
• Forming up: Lineup at 4:15 pm at Our Lady Star of Sea Catholic Church, departs at 5 p.m.
• Route: From the church to JV’s Convenience in John’s Beach.
• Social: Refreshments and prizes will be given out at the town hall.
Cape St. George
• Sponsor: Cape St. George Volunteer Fire Department
• Date: Dec. 14
• Forming up: Marche’s Point at 12:45 p.m. for a 1 p.m. departure.
• Route: From Marche’s Point heading west to end of Cape St. George, then back to the French Centre. Volunteer firefighters giving out treat bags to the children along the route.
• Social: Santa Claus will be giving out presents at the French Centre after the parade. Monetary prize for best float. At 5 p.m. Tree of Love ceremonies will be held at the town square in conjunction with Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital.
Lourdes
• Sponsor: Town of Lourdes and Lourdes Regional Fire Department
• Date: Dec. 14
• Forming up: Lourdes Elementary at 1:15 p.m. for a 2 p.m. departure.
• Route: Main Road to Clam Brook Cove Road, loop back and onto Main Road out to the start of West Bay, up West Bay Hill and end at Lourdes Auditorium.
• Social: Santa Claus will be passing out treats to children at the auditorium.
Lark Harbour and York Harbour
• Date: Dec. 14
• Forming up: Lining up in Bottle Cove around 10:30 am and departing at 11 a.m.
• Route: Beginning in Bottle Cove, then heading “down below” and continuing to York Harbour.
• Social: After the parade, there will be refreshments, hot dogs, treats and a visit from Santa Claus at the York Harbour Community Hall.
Pasadena
• Sponsor: Pasadena Lions Club
• Date: Dec. 14
• Theme: Music and Friends
• Forming up: Lineup at Tenth Avenue at 4:30 to roll out at 5 p.m.
• Route: Tenth Avenue, Main Street, Fourth Avenue and Midland Row. The space between Foodland and Irving on Main Street is reserved as a sensory friendly zone.
• Social: Celebration gets started at 10 a.m. with Breakfast with Santa at Pasadena Place. Santa and Mrs. Claus will pose for photos and ensure all children leave with a loot bag. Ruby’s Rat Pack will be collecting non-perishable food items for the food bank during the parade route.
Meadows
• Sponsor: The Meadows Recreation Committee, Meadows Fire Department and Meadows Firettes
• Date: Dec. 14
• Forming up: Lineup on the west end of Meadows (Gillams side) by 4:30 p.m. for 5 p.m. start.
• Route: Going up as far as Summeside, then turns around and concludes at the town hall.
• Social: Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be served at the main hall following the parade.
Mainland
• Sponsor: Heritage de l'ile Rouge
• Date: Dec. 15.
• Forming up: In front of Chevon Moore's house at 2:45 p.m. for a 3 p.m. departure.
• Route: Going east to west along the Main Road to Centre scolaire et communautaire Sainte-Anne.
• Social: Santa Claus will give out treats at the centre after the parade and prizes for floats will be awarded there.
Point au Mal/Fox Island River
• Sponsor: Point au Mal/Fox Island River Recreation Committee
• Date: Dec. 22.
• Forming up: Smelt Brook at 10:15 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. departure.
• Route: From Smelt Brook to the wharf in Fox Island River and loop back to the Point au Mal/Fox Island River Community Centre.
• Social: A brunch with Santa Claus at the community centre in Fox Island River.
