The Cochrane Santa Claus parade is prepping for its return on Dec. 9 and is currently seeking more floats and volunteers.
This year’s theme for the parade will be “Past, present and future” and will coincide with Canada 150 themes.
The parade committee is encouraging all businesses and organizations to enter a float, but it must be decorated with Christmas lights.
“We should give them something to look at,” said Mick Gee, one of six parade organizers.
“At the end of the day, this is about creating childhood memories that last a lifetime. What we don’t want is to simply put a car in there with nothing on it.”
The parade line up is moving steadily to their goal – so far 12 floats have been entered.
Included in that list and highlighting Gee’s goal to create special moments is one “ginormous” float, which will be 60 feet long and include two train carriages.
There is no entry fee for the floats and up to 25 floats can enter.
“It’s a community event, we want people to come out and enjoy themselves, get in the festive mood, support local shops,” Gee said.
“We’re encouraging businesses to let us know if they’ve got any planned specials, coupons, and we can happily share that for them.”
The parade route will once again be running through The Quarry instead of though Historic Downtown as it did the first year in 2014.
Gee said it is simply due to route logistics and safety.
“We looked at all alternatives, including going through Historic Downtown. But our biggest issue, safety concerns is crossing the CP Rail tracks,” Gee said, explaining that the Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway train schedules may not always run as planned, which could cause problems.
“Without that cast-iron reassurance that we could cross the tracks safely and at night, we aren’t going to do it,” Gee said.
While the parade – which drew more than 20,000 people last time it ran in 2015 – is much anticipated, business owners in Historic Downtown are disappointed the route does not run through the iconic district.
Karrie Peace, owner of Heavenly Outhouse and Poor David’s, said the parade should be going through Historic Downtown.
“Many people offered a solution including several people who organize the Labour Day parade. They publicly made a statement that it was very easy to safely cross the tracks and they do so every year,” she said.
Cayley Breeze of Cochrane Home Treasures echoes Peace’s concerns.
“The Quarry doesn’t scream community to me,” Breeze said. “It’s a bit disappointing that its not being held through the Historic Downtown.”
The parade will form up on Railway Street, head down Centre Avenue through The Quarry towards Grande Avenue, then back down Railway Street towards 5th Avenue.
Any business or organization interested in entering a float can send an email to [email protected].
