Santa Claus may be accustomed to snow in the North Pole, but he encountered rain on his big day in the Royal City.
The jolly old elf rode into town atop a fire truck for the 2015 Santa Claus Parade on Dec. 5. While the crowds were down from previous years because of the cold and rainy weather, those who attended were treated to 45 parade entries including bands and entries from local community groups.
Diane Perry, the city’s manager of community development, said only two of the scheduled entries didn’t attend the parade, despite the miserable weather. She noted that many spectators huddled in and around the Hyack Square and Anvil Centre.
CUPE members from the City of New Westminster and the Starbucks on Columbia Street provided free hot chocolate to parade goers up and down Columbia Street.
Following the parade, community members enjoyed a variety of festive offerings at Anvil Centre, River Market and Fraser River Discovery Centre. The festivities wrapped up at Hyack Square, where about 50 people joined Mayor Jonathan Cote and Coun. Patrick Johnstone for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
