The Kinsmen Santa Parade, a tradition dating back decades, returns to its regular route on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.
The parade will begin at the Town n’ Country Mall and make its jolly, Christmassy way down Main Street to the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
“We’re hoping to get about 100 entries,” said Kirk Olson, chairman of the parade committee this year. “That would be fantastic, if we could get that many.”
After the parade reaches the Events Centre, a ceremony will follow to turn on the lights of the Kinsmen Christmas tree — which will be set up at the Events Centre within a couple of weeks.
Canada Post will be ready at the Events Centre to collect letters to Santa from all the children of Moose Jaw, Olson said.
The traditional hot chocolate and cookies will also be waiting at the end of the parade to keep children contented while they wait for their chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Applications to be in the parade are being co-ordinated by the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce.
The contact is [email protected]. There are two important rules for parade floats and participants — first, only one Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus can be in the parade — the Kinsmen take care of that appearance themselves.
Secondly, the holiday theme must be preserved.
“You have to have something Christmas going on with your float or your vehicle, you can’t just show up,” Olson said. “But we’ve had the Grinch and stuff like that, you know, hanging from the back of a tow truck, which was absolutely cool. If it has a Christmas theme, that’s all we ask.”
The past several years have seen the Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade take a wandering route through Moose Jaw to keep safe distances under public health restrictions. The Kinsmen are excited to get back on the usual track.
“This year, we want to try and get as many people as we can back onto Main Street,” Olson said, “because we’re able to socialize again. We want to get out there and get all the families and kids back to the way things were and spread some joy.”
