Santa set to land
Posted By HEATHER RIVERS, SENTINEL-REVIEW
Posted 2 months ago
It takes a big man to tackle the biggest weekend of the year for downtown Woodstock.
But Santa Claus will again make his way to Woodstock, travelling the same route he has taken since the 1950s, when the Woodstock parade first began.
"It's a big weekend for downtown Woodstock," said Kelly Morrison, manager of the Woodstock Downtown Business Improvement Area. "We hope everyone will come out and support us."
Yuletide events kick off on Friday evening, when the WinterLights committee will host the tree lighting in Museum Square with hot chocolate and music.
"It's a great family event," Morrison said.
The parade on Saturday boasts about 80 entrants and begins at 6 p.m. at the Woodstock Fairgrounds, continues down Dundas Street through downtown Woodstock and disbands at Vansittart Park on Vansittart Avenue.
Morrison said this year's parade will feature a couple of new bands, including the United Alumni Drum and Bugle Corp and the Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corp.
"Expect a great evening with a nice mix of floats and marching bands," Morrison said. "An evening event brings that magical element to a parade."
They'll also be plenty of Shriners in every sort of vehicle.
"The Shriners are so much fun," Morrison said. "We love to have them come."
Three flatbeds will also be filled with people from Woodstock's sister city of Sylvania, Ohio, who have come to visit Woodstock for the big event.
"We've got a pretty good contingent from Sylvania," she said.
Morrison said the Salvation Army will be on hand to collect food donations for their food bank and gifts for their Angel Tree.
The parade brigade will also be accepting donations for next year's Santa Claus parade.
Morrison said parade costs range between $16,000 to $18,000 per year.
"We can do that with the generous donations from corporate sponsors, but the parade donations are what we basically rely on," she said. "Donations from the community keep the parade going."
hrivers@bowesnet.com
