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Christmas Parade brings out the holiday spirit (13 Photos)

The 27th Annual Rotary Christmas Parade saw more than 50 floats travelling through town, cheered on by thousands of spectators.

THUNDER BAY - Preston Lara may not have been riding a top a float, but he was certainly in the holiday spirit as he waved on from the side dressed as jolly old St. Nick.

“I got the costume yesterday because it was for a skit I was doing,” the 10-year-old said. “So I decided to come here and dress up in my costume I had yesterday and use it.”

Preston was one of thousands who lined up along Memorial Avenue Saturday morning to take in the 27th Annual Rotary Christmas Parade.

This year there were more than 50 different floats participating, as well as 10 to 15 walking and bicycle groups that travelled the route from Superstore to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

“It’s been very positive,” said Volker Kromm, co-chair of the Christmas Parade. “We had a late start getting going but Thunder Bay rallies and there is a lot of creativity out there. This year we went a little bit creative. We went with Dr. Seuss.”

Many of those waving from floats and handing out treats along the way looked like they stepped right out of a Dr. Seuss book, from Whoville characters to the Grinch.

And while the temperature was a little chilly, Kromm said compared to last year, the weather was fantastic.

“Last year we had a lot of snow and a lot of ice,” he said. “The weather is a lot better. You might not think so, but this is actually very good parade weather. It’s always great. We get somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people line the parade route.”

For Ryan Amodeo and his three-year-old son, Roscoe, it’s become a bit of a family tradition to take in the parade every year.

“It’s for our son to come out and have fun and see everything,” he said. “We came the last few years. It’s a good family event.”

“Getting handed candy canes is fun for him, but the loud noises are kind of freaking him out,” Amodeo continued. “But it’s still a lot of fun.”

For 11-year-old, Kaelynn Brimmell, who was waving to the passing floats alongside Preston, the entire experience was amazing.

“Just seeing everybody in a great spirit and seeing how everybody is decorating and just cheering on everybody,” Kaelynn said. “I’ve been here a lot before over the years. It is very crazy. There are definitely a lot of people. I bet probably all of Thunder Bay, but maybe some stayed home.”

As for Preston, those passing by in the floats and handing out treats seemed just as excited to see him as he was to see them.

“They say merry Christmas and that I lost a lot of weight of course and nice beard,” he said. “They say: oh my god it’s Santa.”

And who knows, he may just earn a spot on the most popular float featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus that rounds out the parade, and if he was asked, Preston wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like that.

“Yeah, I would probably do it,” he said.  



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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