The annual Santa Claus Parade will be heading along Birch Avenue – from First to Fifth streets – at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, and folks are encourage arrive early to get a good spot to enjoy the event.
The parade is sponsored by the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce and Santa Claus always makes an appearance.
Chamber director Ralph Myhill-Jones is the parade marshal and he notes it’s free for anyone wanting to enter a float.
“We encourage all types of groups and organizations to participate. It doesn’t matter how big or small the float is, we just want to encourage participation.
“I would really like to encourage local ranchers and those in the farming community to get involved as well – 4H and people with horses, etc. It would be wonderful to see more people with their animals downtown during the parade. I think we need more of that.”
Myhill-Jones says parade organizers are going to ask people on the floats to turn their music up because it was difficult for people to hear it last year.
Entry forms can be downloaded from www.southcariboochamber.org or picked up at the Chamber office (2-385 Birch Ave.). Registration needs to be done by noon on Nov. 19.
Entrants must gather at the staging area, behind Save-On-Foods, at 4:45. For more information, call Shelly Morton at the Chamber office at 250-395-6124.
Moonlight Madness
The Birch Avenue and the Cariboo Mall merchants will also be holding a Moonlight Madness shopping extravaganza after the parade and Myhill-Jones says he hopes people will support the local merchants.
"It's important to support the local merchants; they have a lot to offer."
He adds it's very important for 100 Mile House and area residents to shop locally during the lead-up to the Christmas season.
Starry Nights 2
Following the Santa Claus Parade, folks can also head up the 100 Mile District General Hospital parking lot to help Santa with the official Starry Nights 2 Light-Up Ceremony at 7 p.m.
Santa will do the honours of lighting up the stars this year, which will then shine until mid-January. There will also be goodies and hot chocolate for the children, and the Eclectica Community Choir will sing a few Christmas carols.
Then folks can head out to take advantage of the Moonlight Madness deals.