Santa makes his much-anticipated arrival
Published Monday November 24th, 2008
Parade Thousands turn out in sub-zero temperatures to ring in the holiday season
QUISPAMSIS - Hampton Road was alive with excitement as thousands gathered for the 10th annual Kennebecasis Valley Santa Claus Parade on Saturday evening.
Children played in the freshly fallen snow as they waited for the parade to arrive at their chosen vantage point. Some used the remnants from the year's first snow fall to construct seats.
Though lawns were white and parking lots were bordered by snow banks, only a few flakes fell as residents came out in their winter gear on the minus six-degree Celsius evening.
Diane Mitton came prepared for the climate.
"I have my mitts and my blanket and my hat, and my hot chocolate," she said, nestled comfortably in a folding chair with her two children running around behind her.
"It's the start of the Christmas stuff for them," Mitton said. "They've got their notes for Santa Claus and they're ready to go."
Local resident Bill Gates, not to be confused with the Microsoft chairman, brought his daughter Bridget, 9.
"We don't miss the Christmas parade," he said. "My daughter loves it. That's why we come."
The parade began at 6 p.m. at Kennebecasis Valley High School and headed west along Hampton Road to Clark Road, ending at the intersection of Spruce Avenue.
Bridget Gates was excited about the parade as it began to pass.
She was happy that it had snowed the night before because it got her into the Christmas spirit.
John Gibbons, 12, was there to see the fire trucks.
"I like the lights and stuff," he said, adding that he might be a firefighter some day.
A few minutes later, the Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department's first float came, a flatbed with a smoking house on it.
"Burn, baby, burn!" rang out from the truck pulling the float, playing the title track from the Tramps 1976 album Disco Inferno as two firefighters danced. Three different styles of fire engines followed.
A marching band led the parade, followed distantly by many different types of vehicles decked out in lights, including a school bus full of kids from District 6.
A green creature wearing red fooled a few residents anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jolly Old Saint Nick.
But not even the presence of the Grinch could put a damper on the Christmas excitement.
Chris Randles, 18, showed his support, wearing a pointed red hat with a white pompom on the end.
"I just like to come here because it's a very important event in our community, and I like to come out and support it," he said. "I've come here every year since I moved here when I was five."
But Randles' enjoyment of the parade went well beyond just nostalgia.
"What I really like most is just all the floats are really well done," he said.
A ship full of elementary-aged pirates, a gingerbread house, and a trailer pulling a live rock band playing their own version of Christmas carols were among the highlights.
But there was one float in particular Randles was waiting to see.
"Santa Claus just like everyone else," he said.
The blue and red lights of a police van lit up, grabbing everyone's attention for what would follow.
It was pulling a roof top that acted as a perch for a sleigh, led by four rows of two reindeer and a ninth in front with a shiny red nose.
In the sleigh sat a plump man with a long white beard wearing a red suit.
"Merry Christmas," shouted Santa Claus, as he waved to the crowd.
"Merry Christmas."
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