There were three-headed dogs and Grinches aplenty.
There were big trucks and little ones, carrying reindeer and presents and holiday cheer. But it was jolly old Saint Nick who was the star of the show on Saturday, and well worth the wait on the coldest day in Thunder Bay yet this fall.
“I wanted to come out to see Santa, because he’s really cool,” said nine-year-old Brooklynn Mannhardt, when asked why she wanted to join thousands of others lined along both sides of Memorial Avenue for the annual Fort William Rotary Club Christmas Parade, this year celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Abby Tymchyshen agreed.
“Santa’s awesome,” the nine-year-old said.
Older brother Cody Tymchyshen had a different favourite float.
“The army people, because they help save us and give us freedom,” he said. “I wanted to see every float to see what they looked like,” he said.
Alix Pero, also nine, said the parade was really good.
“And I loved when I got the candy and seeing all the floats,” she said.
Brett Lovis also loved the candy and the floats.
“I just loved all the decorations on the floats,” the 10-year-old said, adding it put him in the Christmas spirit a little early this year.
“(It was mainly) because of all the Christmas stuff and the reindeer and Santa on all the floats.”
His friend Nolan Mintenko was just there for the spectacle of it all.
“I was already in the Christmas spirit,” he said.
Kim Lovis brought her children out of the parade and said they come every year.
“This is one of our traditions. The kids love it and we decided to come down. It wasn’t too cold today.”
