The Santa Claus Parade is coming to Toronto on November 15th and will take over the downtown core of the city and Christie Pits Park. In today’s article we’ll talk about the upcoming Santa Claus Parade and how you can make the most of this event.
The Santa Claus Parade is a 110-year-old tradition that is made possible by thousands of volunteers and sponsors every year. It is a non-profit organization that aims to bring and keep the spirit of Christmas alive for the Toronto community and beyond. Today the celebration consists of more than 25 themed floats, 22 bands, 100 celebrity clowns, more than 1,500 volunteers and of course the big man himself, Santa Claus.
Route and Transit
The Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. at Christie Pits and ends at St. Lawrence Market after going along Bloor Street, down University Avenue and finally along Front Street. We recommend taking public transit to and from this event, as many of Toronto’s streets will be closed and traffic will be slow. GO Transit is selling special priced passes for travel on November 16th, which we recommend checking out. TTC stops along the route include Christie, Bathurst, Spadina/St. George, Museum, Queen's Park, St. Patrick, Osgoode, Queen and King Stations. To find public parking lots near the parade route, check the Green P parking site.
Santa’s ETA
You and your family can track Santa’s ETA with the new Track Santa App. This app will allow you to know where Santa is and how long it will take him and his reindeer to pull up to your section of the parade. It’s a free app available for iOS and Android.
New Floats
This year the Santa Claus parade has partnered with the MLSE Foundation, which has created three new and exciting floats especially for the event. They will be a soccer, hockey and basketball float.
Be a Part of the Parade
If you don’t want to just watch from the sidelines, you might be able to take part in the parade. So many volunteers help create the parade annually, with some getting to help out on the actual floats. Children on floats must be between eight and 10 years old and those marching in the six kilometer route must be at least 11 years old.
Make the most of the Santa Claus Parade in Toronto this year as it’s destined to be the most vibrant and bustling parade yet.