Windsor Santa Claus Parade to march through downtown once again
When the opportunity to bring the annual Windsor Santa Claus Parade back to the city’s core —the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA) couldn’t resist.
“The DWBIA's opinion, the parade should be on main street and it's phenomenal to welcome it back,” said executive director Debi Croucher.
The 55th edition of the Windsor Santa Claus parade will step off Dec. 2, at 6 p.m.
The opportunity for a new location presented itself six weeks ago.
“Moving a parade is not something you do lightly,” said Maggie Durocher, executive director of the Windsor Parade Corporation. “It's not something we do just because it's fun.”
The DWBIA showed an immediate interest and got the ball rolling.
“It attracts thousands of spectators, young families who may not typically come into the city centre,” she said.
Windsor Santa Claus Parade 2023 route in downtown Windsor, Ont. (Source: Windsor Parade Corporation)
It also gives businesses like The Gifting Tree on Park Street an opportunity to extend its hours.
“As a retailer, it's so exciting to get all the foot traffic and people to explore downtown,” said owner Misty Sergi. “We have great things down here.”
After a nine-year run in Old Sandwich Town, the parade bounced around a bit. In 2019 it was held in Windsor. 2020 at St. Clair College. The parade was held on Wyandotte Street the past two years.
Now, it is back downtown with a new route starting not at Giles Boulevard but at Wyandotte St. and Ouellette Avenue. The parade will travel north towards the river and then make a left turn on Riverside Drive ending at Caron Avenue.
Durocher likes downtown, but says it is unclear if the arrangement will be long-term.
“We haven't laid out specific years but they do, the DWBIA has first right of refusal for this parade,” she said.
Plans are still in the works for add-on activities like the fan zones in Amherstburg and Essex.
“There will be a lot of activations on the street,” said Croucher. “There will be carolers, there will be window painting, there'll be tons of activities for young families to participate in and enjoy beyond the parade.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.