Get ready for the holiday spirit.
Presented by CHEK, the 40th Peninsula Co-op Santa Parade returns to Victoria this Saturday, November 26, with a brand new route set to light up the city center and kick off the festive season.
The parade, a popular tradition for BC’s capital city, airs live on CHEK+, Facebook and YouTube starting at 5:20 p.m., with hosts Stacey Ross and Joe Perkins providing a front-row seat for those who can’t make it in person.
“We are extremely excited. The parade is a decent size, it’s big. We’re back to about 65 entries, which is exciting,” Kelly Kurta, executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society, told CHEK News.
“I think the atmospheric river scared a few people last year, but you know, the weather is going to be typical for the Santa Claus parade (this year). We’re West Coasters, so dress warm, bring coffee,” Kurta said with a laugh.
The parade will start at Government and Belleville streets, with floats heading north up Government Street, right on Humboldt Street and left on Douglas Street before stopping at Fisgard Street.
Staff from Galey Farms, a locally owned and operated farm in Saanich, will be among about 1,500 people participating in the parade this year, Kurta says.
“This is the time of year we all enjoy. We’ve worked very hard to give back to the community, and building floats is one of the things we do,” said Rob Galey, owner of Galey Farms.
Of course, the big man in red will be in attendance, waving to the more than 50,000 parade-goers expected to attend, according to Kurta.
“The Santa float is bigger than ever this year,” she said.
“I mean the amount of time and dedication of the business and their staff [put in is incredible]. They volunteer their time to put these floats together. We have some beautiful floats in the parade.
The Hudson Holiday Plaza also takes place this weekend, November 26-27, from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Saturday and from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, inside the Victoria Community Market at 1701 Douglas St.
“Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there after the parade and you can take photos by donation. There will be hot chocolate and there will be vendors,” Kurta explained. “It’s a little, little gathering after the parade.”
Victoria Police are warning of road closures Saturday as roads around the BC Legislature and Inner Harbour, including Government Street from Superior to Humbolt streets; Belleville Street from Menzies to Douglas Streets; and Menzies Street from Superior to Belleville streets will be closed on Saturday from 2.30pm to 7.00pm
“It’s going to be jammed,” Kurta warned.
Meanwhile, Humbolt Street between Government and Douglas streets, as well as Douglas Street from Humbolt to Bay streets, will be closed during the parade from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and traffic will not be allowed to cross Douglas Street during that time, according to to VicPD.
CCTV cameras will also be in place throughout the area, police say, noting that the Johnson Street Bridge, Esquimalt Road at Tyee Road and Esquimalt Road at Harbor Road will also be closed between 5pm and 7pm
A map of this year’s parade is below:
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