Getting in holiday spirit in Brandon
Thousands of paradegoers brave chilly temps to give warm welcome to Santa Claus
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/11/2017 (3055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Bob Pappas is no stranger to downtown Brandon or the annual Santa Parade.
Every winter, Pappas and his family gather behind the storefront windows of their family-owned shoe store on Rosser Avenue to watch the dozens of floats drift by and the crowds of people who stand shoulder to shoulder along the sidewalk.
Pappas has worked at the store since he was a teenager, but he still enjoys watching the parade year after year.
“I’m still a kid at heart,” Pappas said with a laugh.
The weather was definitely colder outside of Pappas’s store, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from attending Saturday night’s Brandon Santa Parade on Rosser and Princess avenues.
Upwards of 50 floats were entered into the parade, and Canada Post was also on hand collecting food donations and letters to Santa.
An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people are believed to have been in attendance.
“The cold doesn’t seem to keep them away,” said Caroline Phillips, co-chair of the Santa Parade.
Phillips has seen her fair share of parades as well. She has helped out with the Santa Parade for 19 years, 16 as co-chair. The parade is a lot of fun, she said, but she stressed that more volunteers are needed.
The classic gingerbread men and Christmas tree mascots who normally walk in the parade were missing this year and Phillips said it’s because they couldn’t find people who would wear the costumes.
“So we need some help in our committees, big time help.”
For the second time, members of Youth Revolution, a student group that aims to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the use of drugs and alcohol among children, were invited to take part in the parade.
Forty-nine students from four schools — Alexander, Riverheights, Earl Oxford and Valleyview Centennial — braved the cold, donning flashing reindeer antlers, to give out candy to people on the sidelines.
“It’s one of the fun things to do at the parade,” said Angela McGuire-Holder, divisional co-ordinator for Youth Revolution.
“Every year, we get more and more students volunteering because they really love doing this.”
» mlee@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @mtaylorlee
