Not only will Santa Claus be returning to Talbot Street this year, the parade in his honour will have a distinctive island feel.
The St. Thomas Optimist Club Santa Claus Parade rolls through the downtown beginning 6 p.m. Saturday with a colourful Caribbean beach party flavour.
Parade chair Al Holt tells myFM it’s a chance for parade entrants to show off their decorating skills
The parade will depart from First Avenue with more than 50 entrants participating and four marching bands including the Tomato Soup Band from London, explains parade Holt.
Holt estimates it will take about 30 minutes for the parade to pass any one location on Talbot Street as it makes its way to Elgin Street.
The forecast for the parade is fairly typical for this time of year – below zero temperature and flurries. However, it may feel a whole lot warmer when the parade passes by thanks to this year’s Caribbean Beach Party theme.
Holt says keep an eye out for St. Thomas firefighters collecting donations and Canada Post employees gathering letters for Santa.
The parade leaves First Avenue at 6 p.m. and makes its way down Talbot Street to Elgin Street where it will disperse.
Written by Ian McCallum
