Santa Parade organizers are polishing up the sleigh to get ready this Saturday.
The second annual Santa Parade takes flight Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. starting on Railway St. and Fifth Ave, across from Shoppers Drug Mart.
“This year we have a different route, starting at the old Cochrane Dodge lot – we liked our old route but had nowhere to form up,” Spencer Seabrook, parade chairman and co-founder, explained.
Organizers also said the old route through downtown Cochrane and crossing the railway tracks brought safety concerns.
“The new route was a safety decision made by the committee,” Seabrook said.
This year the Santa Parade will head East on Railway St. and go through the Quarry section of town.
While organizers stayed tight-lipped on how many float entries they received this year, they did hint that it will be a similar number to last year – with some favourite entries returning and other new ones to be revealed, and the main Santa float will have a new theme this year.
There was also a new poster for the event, after a contest was held inviting children and youth to enter their original designs.
Adelaide from Mitford School was announced the winner and her design can be found on the Cochrane Santa Claus website or on posters around town.
“There are some new changes but I think they are positive and it will be really good overall,” Seabrook said.
The parade invites locals and out-of-town guests to celebrate the holidays, with a guest appearance by the jolly old man himself.
Last year’s event brought an estimated attendance of 15,000, with organizers hoping to hit similar numbers this year. This year’s event will also host a judging contest for one special entry to be crowned the best and presented with a plaque, and free entry into next year’s event.
Santa visits local communities again
Following the Santa Parade, the guest of honour will be making 15 different community visits through town from Dec. 14-18.
Visits will include special appearances by Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards, Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead and the Cochrane Glee Club. Everyone will be joining the visits on different days but the special guests have pledged to try and make it out to as many visits as possible.
The Santa Parade committee also announced secret Santa visits this year, where Santa will be visiting individual homes with pre-wrapped gifts. For more information on Secret Santa, visit cochranesantaclaus.com
According to the Cochrane Santa Claus website Santa’s visits will be;
(5:50-6:10 p.m.) Parking lot at Mitford Middle School
(6:25-6:40 p.m..) Open area West Park Way (Opposite 242)
(6:55-7:15 p.m.) Henry Whitfield Park
(7:30-7:50 p.m.) Terry Fox Park
(8:00-8:15 p.m.) Across from the rodeo grounds
Tuesday, Dec. 15
(5:45-6:00 p.m.) Cochrane High School Parking Lot
(6:10-6:25 p.m.) C W Fisher Park
(6:40-6:55 p.m.) Provincial Building
(7:10-7:20 p.m.) Big Hill Lodge Seniors Home
(7:40-8:00 p.m.) Glen Eagles West - Triangle by Glen Eagles Gate
(8:15-8:30 p.m.) Glen Eagles East - End of Glen Eagles Boulevard
(5:45-6:00 p.m.) Sunset Ridge Trading Post Area
(6:15-6:30 p.m.) Park at East end of Sunset Ridge
(6:50-7:05 p.m.) Heartland Park
(7:15-7:30 p.m.) Heartland Cul-De-Sac (Roundabout)
(7:45-8:00 p.m.) Area around Heritage Green / Heritage Boulevard Crossroads
(8:10-8:30 p.m.) 100 Heritage Hills
(5:50-6:40 p.m.) Fireside Community Party
(7:00-7:15 p.m.) Cul-De-Sac (Roundabout) in Riversong
(7:30-7:45 p.m.) Park in River Heights
(8:05-8:30 p.m.) Bow Valley High School
(5:45-6:00 p.m.) Cochrane Golf Club
(6:15-6:30 p.m.) Park at the West end of River View
(6:45-7:05 p.m.) Bow Meadows Community Gathering / Candy Cane Lane
(7:20-7:40 p.m.) Area of 151 - 163 Jumping Pound Terrance (depending on parking)
(8:10-8:30 p.m.) Top of the sledding hill in Bow Ridge
The Santa Claus parade committee will also be bringing Home Treasure staff along in case anyone wants to nominate a family for the store’s Make-A-Wish program or to give to the program.
For more information on the local Make-A-Wish program contact Home Treasures committee at 403-851-9974 or [email protected]
The annual Cochrane Santa Claus Parade takes place Dec. 12 starting at 5 p.m., with community visits to follow. For more information about parade route or community visits go to cochranesantaclaus.ca
