Toronto's Santa Claus Parade moves to Yonge Street for the first time in over a decade
The 122nd parade on Sunday, Nov. 22 swaps University Avenue for Yonge Street, passes Sankofa Square and runs about seven kilometres with 23 floats.
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The Original Santa Claus Parade swaps University Avenue for Yonge Street this year, the first time in over a decade.
The 122nd edition runs Sunday, Nov. 22, starting at 12:30 p.m. at Christie Pits. The southbound leg now runs on Yonge. Clayton Charters, president and CEO of the Original Santa Claus Parade, said organisers had to find a new route. "We've come down University [Avenue] historically, but we live in a big city, there's construction happening, we understand that, so we've accommodated a new route," he said.
The route passes the Eaton Centre and Sankofa Square. "We're going to go right by the Eaton Centre and Sankofa Square," Charters said, "and that's a new activation zone for us this year."
Several rotating road closures begin in the hours before the parade and end around 7 p.m. The parade is about seven kilometres long, slightly longer than before because of the detour. Charters said the first floats should reach St. Lawrence Market around 2:15 to 2:30 p.m., and the parade is expected to wrap up around 4 to 4:30 p.m.
There are 23 floats this year, nine of them new, along with 17 marching bands, acrobats and other performers. Charters said full-time staff build the floats year-round by hand, working with sponsors and partners. The parade is coordinated with the City of Toronto, Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Service.
The Sunday, Nov. 22 start at 12:30 p.m. is set, even as the route depends on the city's construction.
