Santa Claus will be riding into town a little earlier in the day for this year’s Christmas Parade.
New Westminster city council recently decided the city would administer the Santa Claus Parade for 2013 because of concerns that it could be at risk as a result of the ongoing internal dispute at the Hyack Festival Association,
“We invite everyone to join us on Dec. 7 for the parade, which will celebrate New Westminster and recognize the efforts of first responders to last month’s fire on Columbia Street,” Mayor Wayne Wright said in a press release. “The parade is also an excellent opportunity for people to experience the hospitality of businesses in our downtown and, of course, a chance for kids to say hi to Santa himself.”
Following the parade on Columbia Street, spectators are invited to enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities in the downtown business district.
The City of New Westminster has taken the lead on the parade organization, but Tourism New Westminster and the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area are engaging businesses and coordinating some post-parade activities.
“We are working with Shops at New West and River Market and Fraser River Discovery Centre in particular to have some indoor events happening after the parade,” said Kendra Johnston, executive director of the BIA. “It is happening Saturday, Dec. 7. The time has changed. It will be at 11 a.m. instead of 4 p.m. That’s to accommodate all the families with younger kids who we found, it was a challenge for them later in the day when it’s dark and cold and rainy.”
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said the city hasn’t had a lot of time to plan the parade but is confident it will be fun.
“The merchants down there weren’t very thrilled with the afternoon one,” he said. “They said people basically come down there, watch the parade and then they go home.”
Although the city was concerned about changing anything too drastically, Puchmayr said the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area had asked that the parade be earlier in the day.
“It made sense,” he said. “We are doing it at a different time which means less overtime for the city, it means people can bring their families down at 11 in the morning, enjoy a parade – and then there are all sorts of festivities being arranged after that at River Market and Discovery Centre. Santa will be heading over to Plaza 88 at the Shops at New West. Merchants can put on events and attract people to come there and enjoy Columbia Street for the better part of the day.”
In past years the Santa Claus Parade of Lights started at 4 p.m. as it was just starting to get dark. A tree lighting-ceremony followed in Hyack Square.
“It’s not the Festival of Lights,” said Puchmayr, who has been chairing the city’s meetings about the parade. “This is more a celebration of Columbia Street and honouring the emergency services that were so instrumental in containing the fire.”
Puchmayr said the parade will also benefit businesses affected by the Oct. 10 fire on Columbia Street.
“We have a bit of a different theme this year,” he said. “It’s come and discover Columbia Street and work with us on enjoying the downtown.”
Marching bands and fire trucks are just two of the features of the Santa Claus parade.
“We certainly know Santa will be there,” Puchmayr said. “It’s going to be great. Everybody is excited about it."
According to Puchmayr, the city received a list of last year’s participants from the Hyack Festival Association.
“We are going through the list and trying to reach out to different community groups, as well,” he said. “Some people have contacted us already. They are pretty excited about it.”
The city is inviting organizations and businesses interested in submitting a parade entry to contact Moody Park Arena at 604-525-5301 or [email protected].
“It takes a community to make these types of events successful,” Wright said. “We’d like to ask that anyone wishing to volunteer with parade efforts to contact Moody Park Arena and join us in making this a parade to remember.”
