The weather outside may be frightful and the horses may be staying at home this year but the Santa Claus Parade and Winter Lights Celebration will go ahead as planned Saturday, says event chair Cindy Chappell.
“The weather may be frightful but the show will be delightful,” Chappell reassures residents.
The only thing missing from this year’s event will be the horse drawn wagons which have carried Santa and Mrs. Claus in the parade and given rides to residents in previous light up celebrations.
With temperatures expected to dip below -20C it is too hard on the horses to have them participating this year, Chappell says.
So instead, she says Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving in the parade by fire truck and there will be lots of music, and events happening outside in Spirit Square and at the Limelight Theatre across the street during the afternoon and early evening for all ages.
Given the low temperatures expected Saturday Santa and Mrs. Claus will be arriving in the lakecity by fire truck instead of horse drawn carriage.
The annual Winter Light-Up and Santa Claus Parade will also have another new twist this year with the addition of the Ice Princess Float, adds event chair Cindy Chappell.
And there will be lots of merrymaking and music in the parade that starts at 11 a.m. from the Cariboo Memorial Complex back parking lot and will travel down Seventh Avenue and along Oliver Street to the Winter Lights Celebrations taking place in Spirit Square and across the Street in the Limelight Theatre.
The Cariboo Men’s Choir, Williams Lake Community Band, Lake City Secondary School Band, Maranatha Players dressed in costume for their musical Lady Pirates of the Caribbean, and Williams Lake Children’s Choir will all be singing and making music in the Santa Claus Parade.
“It will be fun,” Chappell says.
In Spirit Square there will be music playing, carol singing, pictures taken with Santa, face painting and free cupcakes and hot chocolate, she says.
Across the street in the Limelight Theatre there will be storytelling, skits, a kids activity table, lots of music, various vendors selling crafts, food and other items, plus lots of music.
Musical entertainers at the Limelight will include Brandon Hoffman, Devon Chappell, Troy Forcier, Dena Bauman and Carmen Mutschele, Dylan Pritchard and band and more.
Through it all there will be lots of bargains in shops around the city participating in the Black Friday events today and Middday Madness sales Saturday and Sunday. Watch for advertisements on all the events happening around the city in the Wednesday edition of the Tribune and today’s Weekend Advisor.