Here Comes Santa - The Annual Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade

The Festival of Northern Lights holds their Opening Ceremonies on the evening proceding the annual Santa Claus Parade - together, these events kick off the holiday season in Owen Sound!

About the Santa Claus Parade

Well over half a century ago, Adamae Brown, a resident of Owen Sound, suggested the idea of a “miniature” Santa Claus parade, modelled on Toronto's famous parade, but right here in Owen Sound. Since her husband, J. Irvine Brown, was a staunch Kiwanian, he brought the idea to the club, as they were looking for a project to repay the community for their support. And so the Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade was born.

In the first years, many of the floats, such as Humpty Dumpty and The Old Woman in a Shoe, were built by the Kiwanians and their families, but today, clubs, churches, schools and businesses are invited to participate by entering floats. The parade committee organizes the event, although almost every Kiwanian has a job to do, giving in total more than 500 hours of volunteer time. The DIA also plays a major administrative role.

The Santa Claus parade, by now considerably larger, begins to form up at 8 a.m. on parade morning and is ready for take-off at 10 a.m. It takes over an hour for the parade to pass any given point, their main route being south along Second Avenue East. And, of course, Santa brings up the rear on his new reindeer float, his first visit to the area. Anyone unable to attend in person can always catch it on local Cable TV. So join the estimated over 20,000 people who enjoy the Kiwanis Santa Claus parade on the third Saturday morning of every November.  This year - November 21.

Santa Claus Parade contact: Cheryl Govier (519) 371-4717