Staff
With the 53rd-annual Christmas “Parade of Lights” coming up next Saturday (Nov. 27), organizers are encouraging businesses and groups to get working on their floats, if they haven’t already.
Brenda Kellar of Causeway General Insurance Brokers Ltd., the parade’s sponsor, said plans have been shaping up nicely.
“So far, I have got 15 floats pre-registered and a lot of them are new to us this year, which makes us quite excited,” she enthused yesterday.
With this year’s theme being “The Lights & Sounds of Christmas,” Kellar said they would like people to add more music to their floats, whether it’s with a generator-powered stereo system or children singing.
To further encourage float entrants to add tunes, there is a new prize being offered called best presentation of music ($50), which has been sponsored by Xtra Cash.
“We want to really push the sound, we want to make it festive with lots of festive music, so Xtra Cash came on board to sponsor an award for that,” Kellar noted.
Prizes also 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).
Float pre-registration is not necessary but it does help organizers in determining the kind and number of floats that will be entered in the parade.
To pre-register your float, call Kellar at 274-6688, drop by Causeway Insurance (229 Scott St.), or e-mail her at brenda@causewayinsurance.com
The parade route will go from the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau (old CN station) to the Memorial Sports Centre via Central Avenue and Scott Street.
The lineup begins at 3 p.m., with the judging at 4 p.m. and then the parade getting underway by 4:30.
Kellar conceded the town has expressed some concerns with the parade ending at the arena because there is a hockey tournament that weekend and the parking lot will be congested.
“We’re just kind of wanting to mention that when they disband their floats, and parents are picking [kids] up, do it in the safest way possible and try to avoid parking in the parking lot at the sportsplex,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the local Salvation Army and B93•FM once again will be collecting non-perishable food, new toys, and money for the less fortunate during the parade.
Parade-goers are encouraged to bring along donations.
As well, free hot chocolate will be given out during the parade at stands set up at Causeway Insurance, the Northwestern Health Unit parking lot, and the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce office.
Kellar said McDonald’s is donating the hot chocolate while Fort Frances General Supply is supplying the cups.
While it has been confirmed the Muskie cheerleaders and Fort Frances Lakers will be helping out at the parade, organizers are welcoming more volunteers to step forward.
High school students needing their volunteer hours in order to graduate are encouraged to sign up.
Contact Kellar if you wish to lend a hand.
