by Kyle Wells reporter@prpeak.com Santa is getting his float ready and checking it twice as he prepares for Powell River’s Santa Parade starting at 3 pm on Sunday, December 4.
For the parade, floats created by local businesses and organizations will make their way from the bottom of Westview Avenue along Marine Avenue to Alberni Street. Floats will line up starting at 2 pm, with the parade set to begin at 3 pm and lasting about 30 minutes.
Last year 24 floats took part in the parade but early numbers are down for this year. Organizer Cathy MacDonald is hoping more businesses sign up soon so that the parade can live up to expectations.
Awards will be handed out in four categories: Most Festive, Best Musical, Most Original and Best Overall. Three judges, whose identity must remain secret until the event, decide the awards.
“It’s very fun seeing the kids all so excited to get going,” said MacDonald. “It’s really fun being a marshal, getting everybody organized because everybody’s like little kids at this thing, adults included. It’s a fun day.”
The parade is sponsored by Marine Area Business Association (MABA) and Powell River Lions Club, who will also be running its Coins For Kids fundraiser during the event.
The Light Up Marine Avenue decorating contest is also being run in conjunction with the parade. With that, businesses and residents along Marine Avenue have until Wednesday, December 14 to decorate their buildings to compete for the top three best decorated. The theme for this year’s contest is “old-fashioned Christmas.”
Also ongoing is the Christmas Stocking contest. Thirty businesses in Powell River have a stocking and contest entry sheets that are to be filled out and put in the stocking for a chance to win a variety of gift certificates for Marine Avenue merchants. Last year’s grand prize was worth about $850 and all entries must be in by noon, Saturday, December 3. Santa himself will be drawing the winning entry.
