Annual downtown parade is on Nov. 28

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By James Mallory

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If you haven't got the Christmas spirit yet, the Downtown Bathurst Revitalization Committee has just the thing.

The streets of Bathurst will be aglow with candy canes, nativity scenes and bells and holly on Nov. 28 as the Seventh Annual Santa Claus parade comes to town.

"I'd like to stress that that parade is not only for the downtown, it's for the whole of Bathurst," said parade organizer Roland Hebert.

The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. behind Bathurst High School and proceeds up St. John Street, goes along King Avenue, turning left onto St. Andrew Street, up Douglas Avenue and right onto Main Street. At the corner of Main and King, the official city Christmas tree will be lit as hot chocolate is served.

"It's the lighting of the tree and then Santa Claus is there to give treats to the kids," said Mr. Hebert.

He said about 20 to 25 floats enter each year and hundreds, if not thousands, line the streets to celebrate the parade. Mr. Hebert noted that there's still lots of time for a business or group to enter a float into the event.

"We accept any kind of float or any organization that want to participate. All they have to do is get there on time and they'll get in the parade."

Added Mr. Hebert: "Music, that's what we need most. We're looking for bands and Christmas music because it's a Christmas parade after all."

He said the only to this year's event is people are being asked not to throw candies from their floats onto the street, for safety reasons.

"I'm trying to tell people not to throw candies, to go and give candies themselves to the kids. That's one thing we're pretty serious about," he concluded.

Any float entries are asked to be at BHS no later than 5 p.m. The parade is expected to last approximately one hour.

Any children wishing to write a letter to Santa Claus may do so by addressing the letter to: Santa Claus, care of The North Pole, postal code HOHOHO. All letters will be picked up during the parade.