Floats and volunteers needed for this fun local tradition
The Santa Parade of Lights is returning at the end of November to help ring in the beginning of the holiday season. Residents are once again being invited to take part in the fun by entering floats or signing up to volunteer for this amazing local tradition.
“The Santa Parade of Lights is a holiday parade where the community comes together and all the businesses come together to celebrate the holidays,” said Jon Skrypnyk the Chairperson of the Santa Parade of Lights.
Skrypnyk is the grandson of Eva Magnusson who originally brought the parade to our community. Magnusson started the Santa Parade of Lights after a similar holiday season parade was cancelled because of a lack of volunteers.
This will be Skrypnyk’s third year running the show and though the highlight of the parade is often the arrival of Santa at the end, it’s really an event for the whole community.
“It’s bringing everybody together in the community to celebrate and allow the businesses to showcase that are in the community,” said Skrypnyk.
At this point in the show, the date of the parade has been decided. It will take place on Nov. 23. Though the parade normally takes place on a Friday evening, this year the event is a Saturday night affair as the NHL Alumni Game takes place on the previous Friday and Skrypnyk and the other planners wanted residents to have the chance to attend both events. The parade as always will start at 7 p.m. and residents should make sure not to park on the parade route as there will be a parking ban in effect.
“What we really need from the community (now) is wanting people coming out to volunteer for the parade and, if possible, to enter floats. It’s not just businesses that can enter floats. It can be individuals or anyone that wants to participate and create a nice float,” said Skrypnyk.
Floats that have been hits at parades in the past have been ones with just a little bit of extra sparkle.
“I think really, the more lights the better. My nan was always big on that she wanted the lights,” said Skrypnyk.
If you are interested in entering a float in the parade there is a form that is available online at the Santa Parade of Lights Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SantaParadeOfLights/) or if you’d like to fill in a physical form they will be available at the Selkirk Record office on Clandeboye Ave in Selkirk.
If you would like to volunteer at this event, they are looking for as many people to help make this event safe and enjoyable as possible.
“The volunteers are what make it even possible. Because it’s all about safety on the road. So, the easiest thing that we really need volunteers for is people that are willing to stand on an intersection along Eveline and just help crowd control and remind people to stay back,” said Skrypnyk.
He explained that you don’t have to go to the parade alone to volunteer. They’ve had parents with kids go to the parade and volunteer while their family hangs out with them to enjoy the show.
The volunteers even get a few perks with donations of Tim Horton’s gift cards for a warm drink being a plus but perhaps one of the biggest incentives is that volunteers are right at the front of the intersections getting the best vantage point to see the parade.
In order to volunteer for this event, residents are asked to contact Jim Pelletier, the event’s volunteer coordinator at 204-218-0231 or by email at jim.pelletier@rbc.com.
Skrypnyk is glad to be able to continue this tradition that his nan started in our community.
“To me, this event, she created it because she wanted the kids and families to have something in the community to have at this time of year. So, I think for me, seeing all the kids come out and the smiles and everything is really what makes it worthwhile,” he said.
He welcomes residents in our community to sign up a float, volunteer, or just make plans to come out to the event.
“Plan to come out and enjoy the time with the rest of the community and dress for the weather whether it’s hot or cold,” he said.
