FERGUS – After an adjusted event last year, the Fergus Santa Claus Parade is returning to form.
Parade chair Jim Dandy said they had just got approval from public health on Monday and now they have to move fast.
“Normally we start planning this in July and August so we’re in a bit of a rush and we haven’t confirmed all the things,” Dandy said.
What has been confirmed is on Dec. 4 at 1:30 p.m., a parade will start at the A.O. Smith factory in Fergus.
Dandy said it’s not quite the traditional route seen in previous years. The new Groves Hospital needs to remain accessible so Beatty Line will not close this year.
Instead, the parade will leave the factory parking lot from Johnston Street to St. Andrew Street, across to St. David Street and then back down Hill Street.
As someone who has been involved in the parade in some capacity since 1988, Dandy said he’s ecstatic to have a more traditional parade again compared to last year’s Santa Cruise.
“We struggled last year to put something on, to put the four vehicles together it was almost more work than getting a regular parade,” Dandy said.
“This will take a lot more volunteers and there’s a tremendous support from volunteers.”
Dandy said the parade is a joint project with financing by the Fergus BIA and township with management and operations by the local service clubs.
There is no admission required but there could be donations collected for the CW Food Bank.
Donations, along with letter carriers picking up children’s letters to Santa, still need to be officially confirmed but Dandy expects this will happen.
He said the parade will need some volunteers to watch barricades in a safety vest and he suggests this could be a way for high school students to get some of their required volunteer hours. To arrange this, contact Dandy at 519-843-5142.
Dandy suggested people stay tuned for more updates or changes to public health regulations which could impact the parade.
“Should the province change the regulations, we will follow them,” Dandy said.
“We’re not out to kick over any traces, we just wanna put on a nice parade for the kids of all ages.”
