Bolton Kin Club to push ahead with revised Santa Claus Parade

October 22, 2020 · 0 Comments

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Many events, holidays and celebrations have had to be cut short due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. People have had to adapt as birthdays, Thanksgiving and, soon, Halloween have come and gone, and been changed to ensure the public’s safety during troubling times.

But there’s one popular event that is refusing to bend.

The Bolton Kin Club is still planning to host its Santa Claus Parade this festive period, just as it has done for the past 47 years.

Admittedly, this year’s event will look a bit different. Unlike the traditional parade that families have enjoyed since 1973, Bolton Kin has organized a ‘Santa Claus Drive-By’ to keep the Christmas festivities alive.

“Due to the current and uncertain situation with COVID-19, our Parade committee has made the unprecedented decision to change the format of the Parade,” said Chairperson, John Stegeman.

The route will begin at Landsbridge and Queensgate and travel 24 kilometres and has been designed to cover most of Bolton.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), will lead the parade and with the length of the route, it allows members of the community social distance and enjoy the parade like they have years before.

The parade will have a single float tour with Santa Claus aboard. Once the route is decided upon, Bolton Kin will begin sharing it with the public.

The Bolton Kin Santa Claus Parade has been a tradition enjoyed by generations of communities in Caledon, with others joining from broader areas. The Town of Caledon, alongside the OPP and members of the Bolton Kin, help raise funds to build a large, and festive float for Santa.

In years past, families have lined up on the side of Highway 50 to watch dozens of floats representing local businesses, organizations and even council members, as a way to celebrate Christmas as a whole.

“Santa is still coming to Bolton. The same jolly fellow with a brand-new route,” Stegeman promised.

For more information and register or sponsor the parade, please visit boltonkin.com.