Edited to add: Click this link for the 2014 Santa Claus and holiday parade info!
Confession: I love a good Santa Claus parade. I’m sure I could count on one hand the number of years that have passed in the last 15 or 20 years that I haven’t gone to a Santa Claus parade, sometimes even by myself, and only really pathetic weather will make me miss one now that I have the boys to indoctrinate entertain.
But, I found it surprisingly hard to find information about the various Christmas parades in and around Ottawa. Hopefully, my research will help you find the parade near you. (I originally compiled this information for my squidoo lens, Fun for Families in Ottawa, Canada.)
Help Santa Toy Parade Saturday November 18, 2006. The parade leaves City Hall on Elgin Street at 11:00am, heads West along Laurier to Bank Street, and then down Bank Street to Lansdowne Park.
Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade Saturday November 18, 6 pm. This is the first time this neighbourhood parade will be held in the evening. Parade starts at Loeb on Woodroffe Ave and follows Strandherd Dr to Ross’ Your Independent Grocer where there will be free post-parade entertainment, food & refreshments.
Kanata Santa Claus Parade Saturday November 18, 2006. The parade will start at 10:00 am from the corner of TerryFox and Castlefrank Road, proceed up Castlefrank and turning on to Abbyhill Drive and ending at the Hazeldean Mall. Suggested viewing spots along the route with parking, The Lion Dick Brule Community Centre, 170 Castlefrank Drive, The Jack Charron Arena, The Hazeldean Library (walk over to Abbyhill), AY Jackson High School, Glen Cairn United Church, and The Hazeldean Mall.
Santa’s Parade of Lights, Saturday November 25 at 6 pm. St-Joseph Blvd. in Orleans from Youville Dr. to Prestone Dr.
Gatineau Santa Claus Parade Gatineau’s annual Santa Claus Parade takes place on November 24 along Principale Street in the city’s Aylmer Sector. Spectators can start the holiday season by seeing Santa and a variety of floats that light up the evening. Festivities begin at the marina at 7pm.
Perth Santa Claus Parade The parade takes place on Dec 2nd, 2006 and begins at 5 pm. (Sorry, I couldn’t find the location on this one, but I’m guessing if you know Perth, you know where to go!)
Richmond Santa Claus Parade Saturday December 2 at 11 am. That same evening, come out for the lighting of the park and enjoy and evening of carol singing, friends and some hot chocolate at Memorial Park.
Pakenham Santa Claus Parade Saturday, December 2, 2 pm. On the main street in Pakenham, an afternoon of Christmas excitement as Santa Claus pays a visit. Immediately following the parage, there will be a public skate with Santa at the Stewart Community Centre with hotdogs and hot chocolate for everyone.
Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade – A Story Book Christmas Saturday November 25. The parade starts at 5 p.m. and run down Bridge St. through Lansdowne Ave. ending at Coleman St.
Almonte Santa Claus Parade Sunday December 3, 2 pm. Join everyone on Bridge/Martin/Ottawa Streets in Almonte for an afternoon of Christmas excitement as Santa Claus pays a visit. Also see the Light Up The Night festival on December 1!
For more family fun in the capital, also check out:
Upper Canada Village – Alight at Night Bundle up for an evening stroll around the this gorgeous 1860s-era village, and see heritage buildings all magically lit, with over 200,000 lights – a true winter wonderland! Open every night (5 pm to 9 pm) November 30 through January 6. For an additional fee, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or ride on an illuminated toy train!
Festival of Lights At the Canadian Children’s Museum in the Museum of Civilization. November 25-26 and December 2-3.
Christmas Lights Across Canada Every night from December 7, 2006, to January 7, 2007, Canada’s Capital comes alive as more than 300,000 dazzling Christmas lights illuminate over 70 landmarks along Confederation Boulevard in the heart of Ottawa-Gatineau. The official illumination ceremony will be December 7 at 6 pm on Parliament Hill.
Canadian Pacific Rail Holiday Train Saturday December 2, see the CPR Holiday Train as it passes through Almonte, Carleton Place and Smiths Falls.
The big question? Whether to trundle ourselves downtown for the big parade this Saturday afternoon, or stick close to home for the much more low-key but much more convenient (first ever) evening parade of lights just a few blocks away. Personally, I’m leaning toward doing both!
(Edited to add: Thanks to Myra and Chantal for the tips and info! See the comment box below for even more details. If you have any other holiday events to share, please feel free to use the comment box, or send me an e-mail at danicanada(at)gmail(dot)com.)
Hey Dani — good ideas/links!
East-enders shouldn’t forget the long-standing Santa’s Parade of Lights in Orleans as well… it’s a really fun event: http://www.paradeoflights.org
Bring your loonies and toonies for the hunky firefighters and their fundraising!
We usually make a day of it for the kids with a “crafternoon” of decorating gingerbread houses and we stir up a thermos of Bailey’s & coffee for the grownups, then everyone gets bundled up and off we go.
Night-time parades bring the risk of tired kids though so we always bring a “seat” of some kind for the tots: blanket for the curb, wagon, stroller or even a small step ladder for a bird’s eye view for two or more.
We’ll be at both the downtown parade and our local light parade… it’s all about the anticipation afterall!
Carleton Place – November 25, 5pm
Pakenham – December 2
Almonte – December 3
Almonte has it’s “Light Up The Night” festivities on Friday, December 1. My girls are dancing in the parades and that the Friday night. Busy much?
Also, the Co-Operative Nursery School of Almonte has a Christmas Shoppe on Saturday December 2. A chance for children to shop with help and purchase gifts for their parents. It runs from 9-12pm at the school which is the Almonte United Church.
http://www.mississippimills.ca/tourism/events.asp
I remember the time I was in Ottawa and you and I went off to watch one of the parades. It was a great time although I also remember that it was freaking cold! My advice – see as many parades as you can but bundle up (and wear some sensible shoes). 🙂
Batman, I was thinking of you when I posted this! That was fun, wasn’t it? Gosh, must be at least seven years ago now? And yes, we now wear our warm boots to parades! But you know what? At least for Thursday, the forecast is calling for 17C!!
Chantal, thanks for the info! I’m adding it right now!
Thanks for the information. It was just what I was looking for.
I love the tree lighting ceremony they have here each year, but I’m often whimpy if it’s too cold.
17C!! I’m beginning not to like you any more. It’s going to be -1C here in Winterpeg.
We will be at the one her in Barrhaven, we are looking forward to it!
You forgot the CPR Holiday Train!!! And you say your munchkins are train buffs ? 🙂 This is the highlight of Christmas every year for our little ones. The train is all lit up with Christmas lights, Santa and bands playing on the train for each stop. It travels across Canada every year and will stop Sat Dec 2nd in Smiths Falls, at 5:30 p.m, Carlton Place, 7:30 p.m. and Almonte, 9:00 p.m.
Check out http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/General+Public/Holiday+Train/Schedules/Ont+-+Quebec.htm
I am sooooo jealous of your Santa Claus parades! We don’t have even one.
*pout*
oops. better not.
Kate, laughing!
Thanks for the Holiday Train info, Mom in Boonieville. I added it to the post!
WOW I didn’t knwo there were so many and I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been to oneor takenmy kids. I think it’s Time to correct that error of my ways.
Hugs
Dani, bless you! I woke from a November fog this morning to realize parade season must be upon us and I haven’t heard an whisper of news. Googled “2006 Ottawa Santa Claus Parades” and who pops up as the first return but you (of course!). Huge thanks to you and your friends for the research: I’m taping the list to my fridge. And, Myra, you inspire me with the Bailey’s coffee in a thermos notion…. ‘Tis the season!