Highlights from one of Winnipeg’s longest-running free community events
By Patrick Eulalia
The cold weather wasn’t enough to keep Winnipeggers from coming out to see The Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17. More than 70 organizations marched from Sherbrook Street to The Forks to spread Christmas cheer.
The parade included large mascots, light-up floats, and plenty of people throwing candy canes into the crowds.
The debut of the new Santa Clause float completed the parade. The original float was declared unsafe earlier this year by the parade’s Board of Directors, however Winnipeggers raised more than $160,000 to build the new float. Spectators had the opportunity to see the new float at The Forks after the parade was finished.
The new Santa Claus Float in the parade for the first time at the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
The Winnipeg True North Foundation and the Winnipeg Jets get the crowd pumped while volunteers handed out candy canes. They were the 46th float to march in the parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
Children’s Dental World and the Tooth Fairy join handed out tooth brushes at the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
The new Santa Claus float parked at The Forks after the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
Winnipeg Crime Stoppers catches The Grinch and puts him on display at the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
The crowd cheered for the KFC Taco Bell float and its Colonel Sanders mascot at the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
Lu Communication & Multicultural Marketing’s parade float featured dozens of Philippine Christmas lanterns known as “parols” at the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 17, 2018./ PATRICK EULALIA
