Annual Downtown Christmas Parade | Downtown St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Annual Downtown Christmas Parade

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You better watch out…You better not cry…You better not pout… I’m telling you why…

Santa Claus is coming to Downtown St. John’s!! Mark your calendar to attend the largest community event in the province, the Annual Downtown Christmas Parade, set for Sunday November 27th!

Theme

The theme of this year’s Parade is “Cartoon Christmas”. It should be an exciting event for children of all ages.

Downtown Christmas Parade Food Drive

Not only is the Downtown Christmas Parade the largest annual event in the province, but it is also now the largest food drive! In the spirit of giving, bring along a non-perishable food items or loonies and twoonies to the Parade in aid of the Community Food Sharing Association. Newfoundland Power employees will be walking along the Parade route to collect food items and donations.

Letters to Santa

Kids, don’t forget to bring along to letters to Santa! Canada Post employees will be collecting them along the route and sending them to the North Pole! Address your letter to Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0.

Santa’s Arrival

Look up… It’s a bird… It’s a plane…. No its Santa arriving to St. John’s in his special Reindeer Chopper!!! If weather permits, Santa will travel from the North Pole with Universal Helicopters and fly along the Parade route and wave at all the girls and boys below.

Time/Route

The Downtown Christmas Parade begins at 1:00 pm, and with over 60,000 spectators in attendance make sure to get down early to get your favorite spot along the Parade route. Santa and his cast of colourful characters, crazy clowns, beautiful floats, marching bands, cheerleaders, performing groups and much much more will depart the Fort William Building on Factory Lane and travel along Plymouth Road to Duckworth Street. The Parade then travels through historic Downtown by moving west along Duckworth Street to Prescott Street, down Prescott to Water Street, and west along Water Street ending at the Railway Coastal Museum.

Postponement Date: Postponing the Downtown Christmas Parade is not something that the Parade Organizing Committee takes lightly, but it if we do have to postpone due to poor weather conditions the event will go ahead the following Sunday December 4th at 1:00 pm.

Parking

Parking / Street Closures: Parking restrictions and street closures will be in effect beginning at 8:00 am on Parade Day. No parking along the Parade route on Sunday after 8:00 am, and cars will be towed starting at 11:00 am and possibly sooner. If your car is towed, call the City of St. John’s Access Centre at 311 to find your vehicle.

For a list of street closures, please visit the City of St. John’s web site, www.stjohns.ca or call the City’s Access Centre at 311.

Mobility Impaired Parking and Viewing Area: Mobility impaired parking is available at the Convention Centre, enter off of Waldegrave Street. There is also a special mobility impaired viewing area available in front of the Post Office on Water Street. All parking spaces and spots in the viewing area are available on a first come first serve basis.

Santa Shuttle: The Santa Shuttle is a free Park and Ride service that can bring you to and from the Downtown Christmas Parade. It begins at 11:30 am on a load-and-go basis from the Confederation Building parking lot and also from the west parking lot of Bowring Park. Buses departing from the Confederation Building will drop passengers to Bannerman Park. Buses departing Bowring Park will drop passengers to Mile One Stadium. After the Parade has passed, you may return to the area where to where dropped off to get back on the bus, once again this will be on a load and go basis. The Santa Shuttle is brought to you by Downtown St. John’s, The City of St. John’s and Metrobus.

How To Get Involved!

Put an Entry in the Parade. Build a float, enter your marching band, cheerleading team, dance group, walking group or mascot. Remember that all entries should reflect the theme of the Parade: “Cartoon Christmas”. Entry deadline is October 14th, 2011 for cheerleading and dance groups and October 28th, 2011 for everyone else. Click the Parade Application link on this page to get more details or to print a copy of the application.

Be a Clown or Character. Join Santa’s cast of clowns and characters and walk in the Parade! We have a limited number of clown and character costumes to fill and they are available on a first-come first-serve basis. If your are interested in participating as a clown or character please respond to this email address, downtownstjohnschristmasparade@yahoo.ca. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteer at the Parade. Santa need’s your help! The Downtown Development Commission is looking for volunteers to help out with the Parade set-up and to serve as Parade Marshals along the route, you must be at least 18 years old. If your are interested volunteering, email gaylynne@downtownstjohns.com or call the Parade hotline SANTA-HI (726-8244).