By Briar Hopley and Shylo Adams
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What’s old is now new in this year’s Toronto Santa Claus Parade.
This year’s parade will take place on Sunday, Nov. 18 but media got a behind the scenes preview of the floats Friday.
In its 108th year the parade will include a little blast from the past.
“We’re creating a float from 1951,” Alfred Iannarelli, general manager and creative director of the Santa Claus parade, told Humber News. “[It’s] an interesting challenge.”
The float will feature barnyard figurines that were used in a float over 50 years ago.
In the spirit of revisiting the past a coloring book from 1952 will be available online.
Ross Morton, a Celebrity Clown for twenty years, shared one of his fond memories from a previous parade.
“We turned down Avenue Road, and here’s these three little kids, maybe six or seven-years-old holding a sign [and it said] clowns rule.”
This year, a new addition will be made to the parade.
The Grey Cup and the Santa Clause Parade are teaming up to bring a 14-foot Grey Cup replica onto a float.
Not only will there be a giant cup, but also a giant personality -former Argonauts Coach, Michael “Pinball” Clemons will grace the float with his presence.
With the parade workshop bustling to get the floats ready Santa showed up for an inspection.
“I look forward to all the changes and, of course, the crowd on the street, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho,” he said.
Here are some things you can expect at this year’s parade:
- Anyone who donates $100 or more to the parade can have a child’s name placed on a special float.
- Mrs. Claus will make her second-ever appearance this year
- Santa’s float will be equipped with a Santa Cam to capture the crowd as they watch Santa pass by.
- Red Nose Drive is underway. Canadian Tire stores will sell Red Noses across the GTA to support their Jumpstart program. Air Cadets will also be selling noses on parade day to support the 180 Mosquito Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
- Celebrity clowns will lead the parade for the 29th year.
- The Santa Claus Parade will be accepting gifts from parade-goers, for Toys for the North. Donations will go to remote communities in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Mike “Pinball” Clemons spoke with Shylo Adams at the preview of the 108th Santa Claus parade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54tKZ3gKdqE&feature=youtu.be
Ron Barbaro, Co-chair of the Santa Claus Parade, spoke with Shylo Adams at the Santa Claus parade preview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooxU4qqHRn0&feature=youtu.be