This year’s Chatham Santa Claus parade will have a new starting point, but the same destination.
And in between, there is plenty of room for smiles and laughter from local families for the Nov. 17 parade.
Because of construction at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Lacroix Street, the parade will not begin at that intersection this year. Instead of having floats and other entries marshal along Sandys Street to the north of Grand Avenue, they will now gather along Thames and Dover streets from St. Clair Street back to Fifth Street.
The parade route is also somewhat abbreviated this year, heading across the Third Street Bridge and then down King Street to the WISH Centre.
Paul Shettell, co-chair of the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA – the group putting on the parade this year – said the change was needed.
“It’s due to the Grand Avenue construction. It is supposed to be done by then (Nov. 17), but if we get inclement weather, it would be delayed. We played it safe and moved the starting location,” he said.
The marshaling area needs both streets due to the use of tractor-trailers, Shettell said.
All the large floats and transports will be on Dover and the walking groups and smaller floats will be on Thames,” he said.
The turn from Thames Street onto Third Street would be too tight for the large display vehicles.
Connie Beneteau of the BIA said the merging of the two starting points could cause a logistical issue, but nothing they think will be a major problem.
Beneteau said the shorter route – removing Lacroix Street and a section of King Street West from the parade – will create larger crowds in the downtown core, but stressed the parade will be just as full for the spectators as usual.
“Everyone thinks it will be a short parade because of the route. It’s only 1.5 kilometres long, but if we have 80 floats, it will still be a 90-minute parade,” she said. “People will all have to come down King Street. That’s the only difference.”
Shettell said the route change works well for the downtown merchants.
“From the BIA’s perspective, we’re putting everyone down on King Street, so it works well for us.”
The parade is also starting later than it has in the past. The evening event begins at 6:30 p.m., to make room for the Flaunt Your Flannel, Santa Edition, run at 6 p.m. down King Street organized by the Maple City Mile club.
“They’ll be finishing up when we pull out,” Shettell said. “We’re encouraging people to come out early to watch the run and stay for the parade.”
Downtown coffee shop Cup of Joe is giving away free hot chocolate the night of the parade to help keep folks warm.
As well, the Chatham Goodfellows and the Salvation Army will be collecting canned goods.
Torbram Electric volunteers will be collecting stuffed animals for children of families in need.
Children are asked to bring their letters to Santa with them to the parade as well, as Canada Post volunteers will be on hand to collect them and make sure they get to the North Pole.
Shettell and Beneteau remind parade goers to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.
