A float from the annual Santa Claus parade.
Many spectators gathered in downtown Vancouver to see Santa Claus on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Rogers Santa Claus Parade. For many this was the start of the holiday season.
The 10th Annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade started at 1 p.m. at Georgia and Broughton, and finished at Howe and Davie.
Even though it wasn’t raining, it was a good idea to dress warm. The parade lasted two hours and to see Santa, children had to wait until the end of the procession.
“This is my first time at the Christmas Parade in Vancouver,” said Lisa Loutes, who was watching the parade with her three-year-old daughter. “I come from a small town and usually it’s a lot more exciting with more clapping and ‘Merry Christmas.’ Usually the crowd is more involved. But this is our first year here and overall we enjoyed it. We had fun.”
Rosa Gavrera, from Kitsilano, came to parade with her seven-year-old son. “It definitely got me into a Christmas spirit and my son was very excited to see Santa, though I wish it moved a bit faster. At places it was too quite and more Christmas music would be nice.”
More than 300 volunteers help to make this event a success every year. More than 60 marching bands, choirs, festive floats and community groups participated this year.
The Santa Claus Parade is also one of the largest and important food bank fundraisers in Vancouver. There are numerous volunteers dressed in yellow overalls who collect change in cans for less fortunate people in the city.
