Hundreds enjoy Santa Parade

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This article was published 25/11/2024 (502 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mild -10 C and a layer of freshly fallen snow created perfect conditions for the Brandon Santa Parade Saturday evening.

There were smiles on the faces of the hundreds of people who lined Rosser and Princess avenues, wearing toques, mitts, and scarves as they waved to the people on the 60 floats that were entered this year. Those riding the floats waved back, calling out “Merry Christmas.”

Melanie Swanberg hoisted her two-year-old son Aiden on her shoulders, with her seven-year-old son Ethan by her side. She said they came from Chater to watch the parade.

“They love it, and I think it’s great, too. We didn’t make it last year, and this has been really fun,” Swanberg said.

The parade route and start time of 6 p.m. was the same as it always has been, but this year the event was under the new leadership of Gladden Smith and his team from the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner.

In 2023, longtime organizers Carolyn Phillips and Karlheinz Sawatzky-Dyck passed the reins to Smith’s team.

There were 60 floats registered on Saturday, which included Santa and Mrs. Claus’s sleigh. It was the largest float count on record, surpassing the 48 that took part in 2023, parade chair Ashleigh Hamm told the Sun on Friday.

The theme this year was Christmas Around the World, emphasizing inclusivity and the celebration of diverse holiday traditions.

This will be Rita Oviosun’s first winter in Manitoba, after moving to Westman from Nigeria. “So, far so good,” she said as she laughed when asked how she’s been handling the cold.

“My friends brought me here for the parade, it’s beautiful and brings the Christmas spirit,” Oviosun said.

Downtown BIZ executive director Emmy Sanderson watched the floats go by from a spot at Rosser Avenue and Ninth Street and said it was “absolutely wonderful to see so many people gathered in our downtown.”

“The historic lights and character buildings made the perfect backdrop for such an amazing event,” Sanderson told the Sun on Sunday.

“A huge credit to the organizers and every single business, organization, and person who put so much effort in to bring the holiday spirit to downtown Brandon. I cannot wait for next year,” Sanderson said.

And as tradition calls for, the last float of the parade is always Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh. Santa’s elves made sure everyone knew they were coming, telling the children, “Santa’s only two more floats away.”

Arabella Quesnel stood on a snowbank, held safely in place by her grandfather. She didn’t say much as she saw Santa’s sleigh coming down the road, but the look of wonder on her face spoke volumes.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

» X: @enviromichele