The unofficial kickoff to the annual holiday season in Sudbury, organizers say this year's Santa Claus parade is shaping up to be another crowd pleaser.
Details on the 2023 event were outlined at a news conference held at the Downtown Sudbury BIA office Thursday.
"The parade itself begins at 5:30 p.m. sharp on Saturday, Nov. 18, winding its way through the downtown core of the city, with this year’s theme, it’s a Sudbury Sporty Christmas," said a news release.
"Once again, the success of our parade would not be possible without the assistance of numerous local businesses and sponsors, along with hundreds of volunteers from our community, to make this one of the best parades ever,” said co chairs Laurie Prud'homme and Rick Carr.
The honorary chairs for this year’s parade are Pure Country Radio hosts Josh and Coop. The 2023 parade judges are Wendy Watson from Greater Sudbury Utilities, Jeff MacIntyre from the firm Marketing Hounds, Yonaniko Grenon from Glencore’s Sudbury Operations and Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen, said a news release.
The organizers are inviting city residents young and old to bundle up warmly and get out and watch the parade of lights and sounds leading up to the very special guests - Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and their reindeer.
The parade route begins on Notre Dame Avenue next to the Elm Centre and proceeds south on Notre Dame to Elm Street, west on Elm to Elgin Street, north on Elgin to Ste. Anne Road and finally east on Ste Anne. At the start of the parade, a dynamic display of fireworks (around 5:15 p.m.) lights up Sudbury's Saturday night, said the news release.
Free parking will be available at several municipal parking lots throughout the downtown core so that families can park nearby and easily walk over to the parade route, said the Sudbury Santa Parade website.
Parking will be available is the following areas; - Shaughnessy Street East Lot / Shaughnessy Street West Lot / Shaughnessy Street B Lot / Minto Street Lot / Sudbury Arena Lot / Elgin Street Lot / CP Rail Lot / Centre for Life / YMCA Lot / Elm Place/ Medina Lane Lot / Larch at Lisgar Street Lot / Energy Court Lot / Beech Street Lot / Tom Davies Square Place / Pine Street Lot.
Entry forms for groups and organizations wishing to take part in the annual event can be found online from the parade website.
Parade organizers say local groups and organizations that wish to volunteer can also check out the online volunteer sign-up form which is part of the parade website.
Len Gillis is a journalist with Sudbury.com.
