Burlington has come up with a COVID-19-safe alternative to the annual Santa Claus parade.
The city will be launching Santa’s Holiday Magic Trail this weekend, featuring Santa Claus riding on an antique fire truck with a police escort through different neighbourhoods.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward says Santa will visit neighbourhoods throughout Burlington over each of the next three weekends, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Schedule:
- Dec. 5: Rural Burlington, Tyandaga, Brant Hills and Mountainside
- Dec. 6: Headon Forest, Palmer, Tansley and Millcroft
- Dec. 12: Alton Village, the Orchard, Corporate, Pinedale and Elizabeth Gardens
- Dec. 13: Longmoor, Shoreacres, Roseland and Dynes
- Dec. 19: Aldershot, Central and Plains
- Dec. 20: Make-up inclement weather date, if needed
The city is not posting the routes because “we don’t want people to gather or leave their own neighbourhood to catch Santa is another neighbourhood,” said Meed Ward, “just listen for the sirens and the sounds on the day that he’s going to be in your area.”
She adds that the truck will not make stops to accept letters or pose for photographs.
Meed Ward stresses that they’ve tried to spread it all across the city, and “Santa’s coming to you.”