Staff
The 53rd-annual Christmas Parade of Lights is coming up Saturday, Nov. 27, with Causeway General Insurance Brokers Ltd. and B93•FM again sponsoring the popular community event.
The theme this year is “The Lights & Sounds of Christmas,” and organizers are encouraging businesses and groups to start thinking about entering floats.
“We’re really pushing for the sounds of Christmas,” said Brenda Kellar of Causeway General Insurance Brokers Ltd.
“Last year, we were so happy with how many floats we got, and everything seemed to run so smooth,” she added.
“We just noticed we’d like more music. It gets people more into the spirit of Christmas,” Kellar reasoned.
Kellar said they would like people to add more music to their float somehow, whether it’s with a generator-powered stereo system or children singing.
Meanwhile, prizes will be awarded for best church or school group float ($75), best non-profit organization float ($75), best business float ($75), best recreational group float ($75), and best decorated individual ($25).
The parade will start at the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (old CN station), proceed down Central Avenue to Scott Street, and then head east to the Memorial Sports Centre.
Lineup will be at 3 p.m., with judging at 4 p.m. and then the parade starting by 4:30 p.m.
Kellar said organizers also are looking for volunteers to help out with the parade, adding it’s a perfect chance for high school students to earn their volunteer hours needed to graduate.
Jobs for volunteers range from putting up posters to promote the parade ahead of time to manning barricades while it is underway, or escorting Santa’s sleigh and handing out candy.
Kellar noted volunteers also will be needed to hand out hot chocolate during the parade at stands which will be set up at Causeway General Insurance (229 Scott St.) and the Chamber of Commerce office (474 Scott St.).
To pre-register your float or to volunteer, call Kellar at 274-6688 or e-mail her at brenda@causewayinsurance.com
