Santa’s Coming to Downtown Vancouver on Sunday, December 4

Santa Claus is coming to town! This Sunday, December 4 the annual Santa Claus Parade will be coming to Vancouver to take over the streets with some holiday cheer. Just in time for the snow that’s in the forecast for Monday!

Each year the Parade attracts 300,000 spectators to downtown Vancouver. The parade takes place in Downtown, just blocks from the Burrard City Centre, Granville and Waterfront SkyTrain stations. The parade starts at a new time this year and will kick off at noon on Sunday, December 4.

The holiday festivities kick off at 10:00 am with two hours of free family entertainment at the Vancouver Art Gallery (South side). The pre-parade-party will include a Food Bank drop-off zone, gingerbread decorating station, letters to Santa station, an entertainment stage and much more.

The parade route will begin at Georgia at Broughton, continue East along Georgia, turning South on Howe, and ending at Howe and Smithe. If you don’t want to sit on the curb, you can splurge for VIP seating for the best seat in the house! Email RSCP@pacegroup.com to learn about how you can get bleacher seating complete with complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and snacks.

This is the 13th annual Santa Clause Parade and it boasts more than 3,500 participants. More than 50 marching bands, choirs, festive floats, and community groups will be ready to entertain you for an afternoon of holiday spirit!

Some handy tips for making your parade experience most enjoyable:

• Dress warm and cozy.

• Bring some rain gear, just in case.

• Don’t forget your mittens!

• If you don’t have your own reindeer, it’s a great idea to take public transit.

2016 Santa Claus Parade Quick Details

Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016
Time: 10:00 am pre-party, 12:00 pm parade
Location: Starts at Georgia and Broughton
More info: www.rogerssantaclausparade.com

What are your favourite ways to kick off the holiday season in Vancouver? Let us know in the comment section below!