The holiday spirit swept over Toronto on Sunday (24 Nov) as the city celebrated the 120th edition of its beloved Santa Claus Parade, filling the downtown streets with cheer, festive floats, marching bands, and of course, Santa Claus himself.
It’s one of the largest and longest-standing holiday traditions in North America, and thousands of people turned out to join in the celebration. But amidst the magic and excitement, questions loom about the future of this cherished event. Could this be the last time the parade marches through Toronto? I felt lucky that I was there to see it as it was my first ever Santa Claus to witness and I hope this legacy does not stop and continues.
Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade is not only one of the largest parades of its kind, but it’s also the oldest Santa Claus parade in the world, delighting generations since its start in 1905. The parade has become an iconic symbol of the holiday season in Toronto, running uninterrupted for 120 years, even through two world wars and other challenging times. But now, inflation and rising operational costs are casting a shadow over its future.
According to parade CEO Clay Charters, the funding gap has made organizing this year’s event particularly difficult. “We’ve been very honest in the last week about our funding shortfall and how difficult it is. We’re a year-round endeavor to plan and organize, and ultimately pay for this parade as a not-for-profit,” Charters explained.
Traditionally, the bulk of the parade’s funding has come from corporate sponsors. However, with corporate budgets tightening and costs rising, the parade faced a significant deficit of $250,000. Fortunately, a GoFundMe campaign and community support have helped raise over $136,000 so far, putting them more than halfway towards their goal.
Toronto’s mayor Olivia Chow also highlighted the importance of the parade, noting the city’s financial commitment to keeping it going through its Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI) fund. The city has committed $100,000, and the province has pledged support as well.
Chow emphasized the importance of the parade, not just for its magic but for the economic benefits it brings, with people heading to coffee shops, restaurants, and stores as part of their parade experience. “We just need the federal government to step up now,” she added, encouraging further support to ensure the parade’s future.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his support last week, calling the Santa Claus Parade a “great tradition” that needs to be preserved for future generations. However, specific details on the federal government’s contribution have yet to be revealed.
This year’s event featured 18 marching bands, 26 beautifully crafted floats, and drew an impressive crowd of over 700,000 spectators. With the incredible turnout and community support, organizers remain cautiously optimistic about continuing the tradition next year.
The hope is that, with sufficient support from private donors, local government, and maybe even a little holiday magic, Toronto’s iconic Santa Claus Parade will continue to bring joy for many more years.
If you love this iconic celebration as much as I do, don’t forget to check out my vlog: “Toronto’s BIGGEST Original Santa Claus Parade 120th Anniversary in 4K.” You’ll get a front-row seat to all the festive floats, marching bands, and holiday cheer, captured in stunning 4K quality!
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