Whether you missed out on the 120th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade last week or simply cannot get enough holiday cheer in your life, there’s another parade happening in the city this week that’ll be right up your alley.
While the Toronto Santa Claus parade tends to get all the glory when it comes to the city’s festive events, the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade just so happens to be another long-standing tradition bringing together the city’s west end communities for a day of holiday cheer.
Founded in 1990 by the Lakeshore Village (New Toronto) and Long Branch BIAs, the parade was first dreamt up as a means to fill a gap in the neighbourhood following a 25-year hiatus of their prior Christmas Parade, while also attracting visitors to the neighbourhood.
“As a result of the dynamic changes in the area, there was interest in drawing crowds, supporting local businesses, and showcasing that the Etobicoke Lakeshore area was a vibrant and attractive community to live, work and play,” Aaron Crhak, a member of the parade organization tells blogTO.
In the 34 years since, suffice it to say the parade has achieved that goal, attracting an estimated 60,000 people to the area each year.
Beyond being a cherished tradition in the area, the three-decade run of the festival, which is entirely planned and run by volunteers, also carries with it a legacy that speaks to the city’s history as a whole.
“A fun fact about the parade is that prior to the City of Etobicoke being integrated into Toronto, the parade was considered the City’s parade and was proclaimed as such by the Etobicoke City Council,” Aaron tells blogTO.
This year, the parade is hitting the streets at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, kicking off at the intersection of Dwight and Lakeshore West before travelling along Lakeshore and culminating at Long Branch Avenue.
It’s a shorter run than that of the city’s preeminent Santa Claus parade, to be sure, but chock-full of merry Christmas scenes, performances by local marching bands, and may even see an appearance from the man in the red suit himself, and is the perfect compliment to your weekend plans if you’re looking to get into the festive spirit.
