Five 2013 Santa Claus Parades in the GTA

Do you want to bring your family to a Santa Claus Parade in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)?  (Updated Nov. 14, 2014) Let’s have a 21-gun salute for “21 GTA Santa Claus Parades in 2014“. (Back to the 2013 article…) Here are five suggestions for 2013, in:

  • Bowmanville, Ontario;
  • Maple, Ontario;
  • Markham, Ontario;
  • Mississauga, Ontario;
  • Uxbridge, Ontario;
  • and Stouffville gets a bonus mention because they had held a Santa Claus Parade last year, but it’s not mentioned for 2013. Can any locals let me know? (Updated Nov. 18, 2013: yes! See below).

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This photo is from 2009 in Stirling, Ontario, situated between highways 401 and 7, and a bit west of Hwy 62 which runs north from Belleville.

"2009 Santa Claus Parade in Stirling Ontario" image by Robert Taylor (Bobolink)
“2009 Santa Claus Parade in Stirling Ontario” image by Robert Taylor (Bobolink)

The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Bowmanville, Ontario

Enjoy the Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade on Saturday Nov. 16, 2013. The parade leaves Church & Temperance Streets at 10:30am, heading west on Church. It then turns south on Scugog, then east on King, south on Liberty and ends in Memorial Park just south of Park Street.

This year’s theme is “Rock Around the Christmas Tree”.

This year’s Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade introduces a “commercial” element. The floats may display their organization or business name. (Participants may not hand out flyers). The Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade Committee hopes to attract more entrants for this year’s parade, making it a better spectacle than ever.

The official Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade site has more details.

The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Maple, Ontario

The Maple Santa Claus Parade begins with opening ceremonies at 1:45pm on Sunday Nov. 24, but starts marching at 2pm. Just remember that the participants must have finished preparing their floats by 9am for judging at 12:30.

Road closures take effect by 1:30pm, so do not plan to use Major Mackenzie Drive that afternoon. The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Maple goes east from Canada’s Wonderland to the Vaughan Civic Centre; a distance of about 3Km along Major Mac.

Learn more, including volunteer opportunities, at the official Maple Santa Claus Parade site.

The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Markham, Ontario

Markham hosts its 2013 Santa Claus Parade on Saturday Nov. 30. The parade starts at 11am, although the route will be closed to cars by 9am.

The Markham Santa Claus Parade starts from the intersection of Highway 7 East & Highway 48, heading north along Markham Main Street (Hwy 48) to Bur Oak Avenue. Santa Claus will hustle back south for family photos at 132 Robinson Street, about half a kilometre north of Hwy 7, from noon to 3pm.

The official Markham Santa Claus Parade site includes a map of the southern part of the route and recommended parking areas (in green). You have to watch out for road construction as well as the closure for the parade.

The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Mississauga, Ontario

Also on Sunday Nov. 24, the 2013 Mississauga Santa Claus Parade will begin its journey at 1pm from the intersection of Britannia and Queen Street. The route is straight south-west along Queen to Old Station Road.

If you want to participate, or simply check the really awful weather conditions that might cancel this annual event, visit the official Mississauga Santa Claus Parade site.

(Added Nov. 23, 2013): Just learned that the ceremony of lighting the Mississauga Holiday Tree is today, Sat. Nov. 23, 2013 from 6pm in Celebration Square.

The 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Uxbridge, Ontario

The Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade starts at 11am on Saturday Nov. 30. Starting at Brock and Centre Streets, the route follows Brock St. to Franklin St. This year, the theme is “The Fun of Christmas”.

Like many of the Santa Claus Parades in the GTA, the main rule in Uxbridge is that only the one true Santa Claus will appear, in his sleigh, at the tail end of his parade. This, and other helpful tidbits of information, are found in the official Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade site.

No 2013 Santa Claus Parade in Stouffville, Ontario? Try the Stouffville Downtown Christmas Light Tour

I’d found evidence of a Stouffville Santa Claus Parade from a previous year, but nothing to confirm it for 2013. Do they stick to the first Saturday of December as a schedule, or was it dropped for 2013? I’d appreciate insider information from any keen reader… preferably with a link to a press release or news item. Thanks.

(Added Nov. 18, 2013): May I quote part of the comments sent by alert reader “santa” [I kid you not].

The “Stouffville Santa Claus Parade is Dec. 7 (2013), annually the first Saturday of the month. The route begins at Tenth Line and Aintree Drive in east-end Stouffville. It heads south and then west on Main Street to Weldon Road, ending at Stouffville District Secondary School. Aaron Marshall is this year’s parade chairperson. For more information, call 905-806-9058“. Thank you, “santa”!

Just one evening before this parade, the Stouffville Downtown Christmas Light Tour runs on Dec. 6 from 7-10pm, on Main Street in downtown Stouffville.

A Reference for Resourceful Christmas Gift Giving

Every annual Santa Claus Parade serves to remind you to buy Christmas gifts for your children (and other loved ones). Here are some gifts that Canadian Living had recommended a few years ago, for children of different ages.

Children age 6-11 learn by reading, or by having their parents read to them. Here are two seasonal recommendations available from Amazon.ca.

One Hundred Shining Candles”, by Janet Lunn, is an illustrated hardcover book. In it, 10-year-old Lucy tries to hand-craft 100 Christmas candles in 1800s Upper Canada (now Ontario).

The Kindle e-book, “Magical Christmas” by Michelle Zimmerman, also boasts full-colour images. What will Alex do when he misses his school’s Christmas party? Who becomes involved? (Remember that you can download e-books to your computer; it does not need a separate Kindle device).

Try some math for older children, perhaps ages 12-16. The challenge of “Mindtrap Geometrical Riddles – Genius Level” appeals to groups as well as individuals.

My American readers can find these same gifts through Amazon.com:

Looking for More Annual Events or a Holiday in Toronto Canada, or in the GTA?

You can find more annual events for your vacation in Toronto Ontario; or for local residents wanting things to do in Toronto or in the GTA some weekend.

If you’re looking for the 2013 Santa Claus Parade Toronto, I’d covered that topic just yesterday.

Ideas for a Toronto Vacation or Staycation

This blog tracks many of the annual Toronto events that I find interesting, and provides ideas for fascinating, free or frugal things to do in Toronto Canada and sometimes in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).

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Thanks for reading about the five 2013 Santa Claus Parades in the GTA.

2 thoughts on “Five 2013 Santa Claus Parades in the GTA”

  1. The Kinsmen Club of Stouffville is promising a storybook ending to this year’s Stouffville Santa Claus Parade.

    The parade date is Dec. 7 – annually the first Saturday of the month.

    The route begins at Tenth Line and Aintree Drive in east-end Stouffville. It heads south and then west on Main Street to Weldon Road, ending at Stouffville District Secondary School.

    This year’s theme is “A Story Book Christmas.”

    Aaron Marshall is this year’s parade chairperson.

    For more information, call 905-806-9058.

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