For those looking to celebrate the upcoming holiday season or hoping to get a glimpse of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, the annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade was the place to be on Sunday.
“The magic of the Santa Claus Parade – and of course this is the 112th parade – is in all the smiling faces of the children,” Peter Beresford, president and CEO of the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, told Global News.
The parade started at Christie Pits Park and made its way east on Bloor Street West, south on Queen’s Park Crescent and University Avenue, east on Wellington Street and Front Street East and south on Jarvis Street, where it eventually ended at St. Lawrence Market.
Beresford said there were 26 floats and 21 marching bands in this year’s parade. He added Santa’s float was bigger compared to previous years.
“Traditionally our floats are 30 feet long, but his is 42 feet long,” Beresford said.
Mayor John Tory attended the parade and welcomed all of the visitors.
“What’s so great about it is that probably half the people who are here today don’t even celebrate Christmas. But they’re here celebrating our city and they’re celebrating each other, and they’re having a good time,” Tory said.
“Everybody loves Santa Claus!”
Sasha Campbell contributed to this report