CORNWALL, Ontario – This isn’t your grandfather’s Santa Claus parade – and we’re pretty sure your father wouldn’t recognize it either.
The Santa Claus parade – the annual unofficial kickoff to the holiday season in Cornwall – takes place Saturday.
This year the event has been augmented to include a day of events centred on the city’s downtown.
For starters, a day-long street hockey tournament will take place on Pitt Street, as the busy thoroughfare is being closed down between Frist and Second streets, as well as Second and Third.
Terry Muir, chair of the parade organizing committee, which is once again being sponsored by the Service Club Council of Cornwall, said there will also being family entertainment throughout the downtown area.
“We’re really trying to bring another family-friendly event to downtown Cornwall,” he said.
Businesses downtown are also getting into the Christmas spirit. The idea is to turn parade day into “Red Saturday.”
Muir said the name is a reflection on the popular shopping free-for-all in the U.S. known as Black Friday.
Businesses downtown are being encouraged to reduce prices on this day, in an effort to draw shoppers.
Oh yah…there’s also a parade.
Santa Claus will wind his way along Second Street, from St. Lawrence High School to Bedford Street. The parade begins at 5 p.m.
For more information on all the parade activities, head over to cornwallsantaclausparade.com.
