Santa Parade ready to roll

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This article was published 19/11/2016 (3639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Snow may be a little late this year, but Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive in Brandon right on time.

The Brandon Santa Parade is scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. as local charities, businesses and schools come together in the spirit of the holidays.

Around 35 floats are expected to take part in the parade this year, decorated to match the theme, “Parade of Lights,” said parade organizer Karlheinz Sawatzky-Dyck.

“People can decorate their float with a whole bunch of Christmas lights so people can see it at night,” Sawatzky-Dyck said. “It just sort of changes the atmosphere and creates a little bit of a different kind of parade.”

This year, parade-goers can expect some old favourites along with some new and revamped floats, according to Sawatzky-Dyck.

“We have a few newcomers this year … it’s exciting to see what kinds of floats they’ll put together,” Sawatzky-Dyck said. “It will make for a very nice parade.”

The Westman Dreams for Kids float will be returning to the Santa Parade for the sixth year in a row. Yvon Couturier, who built the float, was busy Friday afternoon putting on the last few snowflakes and testing all the lights and sound system before the big day.

They may be sticking with their traditional float, however, the light system is new, said past president of Dreams for Kids Susan Stoetzel.

“It’s a chance to get all caught up in the fun of Christmas with all the lights — it’s a happy time,” Stoetzel said.

The parade also give Dreams for Kids the opportunity to show off the work they do, Stoetzel said. They often have families they have helped over the year featured on the float.

“Every year we try to include new people … the kids love to ride (the float),” Stoetzel said. “It brings awareness to who we are and that we’re there in the community to help families who are going through a tough time. (The parade) is about kids and families and that’s who we are.”

Sawatzky-Dyck, who has been working with the Santa Parade for 17 years, said it’s always exciting to see the community come together.

“It’s a lot of work but there’s a lot of payoff, too … seeing the interest the community has in supporting this and what kind of floats are put together — some of the creative elements and the ideas people come up with are very neat,” Sawatzky-Dyck said.

He also has one of the most important jobs in the parade — taking care of Santa’s float.

“I get to see all of the smiles at the parade, see people enjoying it, and hear the crowds and the cheers that they have for us,” Sawatzky-Dyck said. “That makes it all worthwhile.”

The parade takes off from the corner of Sixth Street and Rosser Avenue at 6 p.m. Santa’s elves and helpers will be collecting non-perishable food items for Christmas Cheer, as well as any letters for Santa Claus.

Brandon City Transit will also be offering free bus rides on all bus routes from 4 p.m. to midnight.

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