SANTA CLAUS HAS GONE BROKE - GO FUND HIS PARADE

 Will This Be Jolly Ol Saint Nick’s last sleigh ride down Yonge St?



By Stephen Weir

Will Santa Claus be smiling on his float as he travels along Bloor Street this Sunday (November 24th)? Last week, Parade organizers announced they were running out of money, putting the 120th Original Santa Claus Parade at risk of being the last. They also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for 2025.

But as they say, the show must go on. This year, on a newly updated route, Santa and Mrs. Claus will showcase 26 spectacular floats, joined by spirited marchers, lively bands, and diverse community partners. Making her Canadian debut, former Wiggles star Emma Memma will join the parade. For the first time, the event will be livestreamed on YouTube, allowing new audiences across Canada to tune in.

This year’s route starts at 12:30 pm at Christie Pits (750 Bloor Street West) and heads east along Bloor Street to St. George Street. From there, it continues south on St. George, east on Hoskin Avenue, south on Queen’s Park Crescent and University Avenue, then east on Wellington Street. It then turns south on Yonge Street, ending at St. Lawrence Market on Jarvis Street. The parade will last approximately 2.5 hours.

Milk and Cookies Zone: Sponsored by Circle K, this pre-parade area at Christie Pits opens at 10:00 am with free activities, including dancing with a hype squad, writing letters to Santa, and enjoying milk, cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate provided by Tim Hortons.

Special appearance by Emma Memma: Former Wiggles star Emma Watkins debuts her preschool brand, Emma Memma, with a meet-and-greet at the Milk and Cookies Zone and a performance before joining the parade on a special float.

New floats to watch for: This year’s lineup includes new floats from CIBC, McDonald's, Fitzrovia, LEGO, McCain, Metro, and Tim Hortons.The Toronto Caribbean Carnival was rumoured to participate, but our inquiries for confirmation went unanswered.

Rising costs are putting next year’s parade in jeopardy, prompting the GoFundMe campaign to help ensure its future. Donations can be made at GoFundMe.

About the Original Santa Claus Parade: Established in 1905 by Eaton’s, it began as a "one-man show" with Santa traveling downtown. Today, it’s North America's largest children’s parade, supported by sponsors, partners, and volunteers, bringing seasonal joy to millions




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