KV Prepares For Santa Claus Parade

Families in the Kennebecasis Valley will get the chance to see Jolly Old St. Nicholas this weekend.

Final preparations are underway for the 23rd annual KV Santa Claus parade on Saturday.

Aaron Kennedy, acting CAO for the town of Quispamsis, said people are genuinely excited after last year’s parade was shelved due to COVID-19.

“We’ve been through this collectively since March of 2020, it’s been a very difficult time, and we hope that this brings some joy to our residents,” Kennedy said in a phone interview.

Both Saint John parades were cancelled this year, with organizers citing COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of participation as the cause.

Kennedy said participation in the KV parade has not been an issue. They are expecting about 40 floats this year, which is similar to what they have seen in the past.

There will be a number of Public Health guidelines in place, he said, such as mandatory physical distancing along the parade route.

“It’s about four kilometres long with people on both sides of the street. There’s lots of room for people to spread out,” said Kennedy.

Masks are mandatory for all parade participants, and spectators are also asked to wear them, he said.

Canada Post will not be collecting letters to Santa along the parade route this year, but you can still mail them to the North Pole before Dec. 10.

The parade will begin from Kennebecasis Valley High School at 6 p.m. and make its way along Hampton Road to the Marr Road intersection.

The parade will also be live streamed on Facebook for those who cannot make it.