Uncertainty about COVID restrictions means there will be no Guelph Community Santa Parade again this year.
The Downtown Guelph Business Association, organizers of the event, said in a news release that there are many factors that have contributed to this decision, and having a good alternative was essential.
As it did last year, the DGBA will partner with the Rotary Club of Guelph to have Santa appear at the annual Sparkles In The Park event at Riverside Park.
Parade organizer Sam Jewell says “unlike other outdoor events that take place in easy-to-enclose spaces, there are multiple access points to a parade making it impossible to manage social distancing and crowd capacity. The community groups we rely on to make the floats are not congregating in the same way, and with less than two months until our traditional parade day, it is time to look at an alternative”.
At Sparkles in the Park, Santa will be set up in an enormous snow globe at the annual drive-thru event at Riverside Park proved hugely popular.
Jewell says “it was magical. People got to see Santa as he sat and waved from the safety of his snow globe surrounded by the beautiful illuminations and we are grateful to the Sparkles organizers for including him”.
Dates for Sparkles in the Park will be announced later in the year.
