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Santa Claus Parade

21 comments
Every Parade starts off with a Marching Band  playing some Christmas carols.

Put on your Santa hat and join me here in Toronto's 2012 Santa Claus Parade. The parade has been a Toronto tradition since 1903. It started small with real Reindeer pulling Santa in his carriage from the Union Station, travelling to Eaton's Department Store to start off the Christmas Shopping Season in the City. Then as the years go by, the reindeer have been replaced by extravagant and huge floats and has grown with a longer route to accommodate the larger audience. The weather in Toronto last weekend was very mild in the double digits with the sun out on a lovely Sunday. I remember attending the parade when I was younger with my parents and brothers in snowing conditions or freezing rain and temperatures. Now, it is really getting warmer. The parade was attended by almost 1 million people all anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus to the City. The Christmas Season has officially started here in Toronto. After the Santa Claus Parade, radio stations started playing Christmas carols and  the shopping season officially started. I wish I can share all of my pictures from the parade here. I am presenting here the best from the Parade! Enjoy!
All of the Volunteers came out in full costumes and make-up. They all had fun!
One of the Corporate Sponsors of the Parade was Mercedes Benz. I told my friends that I had equal fun watching all of the MB cars parading along together with the Floats. 
Luckily, I was standing beside a 5 yr old Boy who was excitedly naming all of the parade participants. Here are the Power Rangers!!!  
Then in front of me was an older lady who was equally excited during the parade. She kept waving to the participants and the floats that her hand kept showing up on my camera lens. Of course, I don't want to break her excitement that day. So I just adjusted my photo taking techniques by either, taking the picture quickly before she waved or took the photo below or above her waving hand. The parade was enjoyed by everybody from all ages. 
There were many Marching Bands from Universities, High Schools and other Community Groups from around the City that participated in the Parade. They all showed up in their different costumes and played different Christmas carols.
Of course, Princess Barbie had to make her appearance.

Three Little Piggies.

Ronald Mcdonald and his special float.

Lego!!!
Sony PlayStation Game Little Big Planet. Thanks to the 5 year old boy beside me who was my source of information on this one...
Turtles.. a traditional Canadian chocolate. They are caramel filled chocolates with nuts shaped as Turtles. They are delicious and crunchy.
Tim Horton's is Canada's answer to Starbuck's and Dunkin Donuts. They make the best coffee and donuts in the City.
I believe these are from the UK. If my British readers can help me identify which Regiments they belong, I will truly appreciate it. My guess is that they are from the Queen's Royal Guards. It was great of them to come along.
A Marching Band from a High School in New York, USA.

The Big Building behind in this picture is the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). The old building with the newer Michael Chin's Crystal Building. This is one of their Dinosaur float honouring their Ultimate Dinosaurs Exhibit in the Museum.



We had no idea how the British Pop Group One Direction ended up in one of the floats featuring Polar Bears?  This shows how One Direction is super popular anywhere in the World.
Sears Christmas Catalogue Float.
Canadian Moose.
The Penguins and the Skunks.
The Drummer Boys above and more marching bands this time dressed like Santa.
All dressed in the Christmas Spirit.
12 Days of Christmas Float.
Metro is one of the Big Chains of Grocery Stores in the City. Here are some volunteers dressed as Chickens, Strawberries, Grapes and Oranges.
Everybody knows Toys R Us!


Toys For The North is a toy charity drive by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P) for the children living in the most remote, northern communities in the Canadian North: Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P) parading here before Santa Claus arrived.
This Black Horse by the R.C.M.P is known as the Burmese which was Queen Elizabeth's favourite horse. It was gifted to The Queen in 1969. She rode the Burmese horse since 1969 during the Trooping of Colour Parade until 1986 when the horse was retired. After that, The Queen requested not to have any horse trained for her for the Parade and decided to attend the parade in a horse drawn carriage since. (Source: The Official Website of the British Monarchy)
View of the ROM and the CN Tower along University Avenue. The whole Avenue was lined with large Balloons in Red and Green.
Finally, here is Santa Claus and the Reindeer.
 Everybody stood up in excitement when Santa Claus arrived!



The winner of the Creativity At Work book by Heather Clawson is Connie of the Blog Snow In The Air.
Congratulations Connie!   Too bad there was no snow here in Toronto during the Santa Claus Parade.

I hope this has put all of you in the Christmas Spirit!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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21 comments

  1. Hi Pamela! I had the blessing to see it once! It is really one of the most beautiful thing I have seen, I felt as a child! I was at the corner Bloor Street, just near where you took the pics:) Tim Hortons float is my fav with all those donuts!:P Happy weekend dear! Kisses! xo

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    1. The Tim Horton's was one of the best floats. Thanks Lilli.

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  2. very interessting post, never saw something like this before

    want to follow each other? i will defiently follow back

    my blog:
    http://thebizarrebirdcage.blogspot.de/

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  3. Everyone loves a parade!
    Connie*

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  4. Beautiful photos you've made!

    xx

    WWW.CATWALKTOCASUAL.BLOGSPOT.COM

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  5. Wow, what a day you had Pamela. Looks like you got yourself quite a good position next to your waving neighbour:)We don't have anything quite like this here in London. I think my favourites would have been the penguins and the Mounties.

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    1. We did have an excellent position , in front of baby strollers and waving neighbours. I thought your favourites would have been the Celebrity clowns and the marching bands.

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  6. Pamela, thanks for these photos! They are super!
    I'm not a 5 years old, but I also played in Little Big Planet))))
    It's really nice game!

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  7. What a great parade! I would be overwhelmed if I could attend it, since I am already very excited to even see these amazing photos. What a wonderful experience!

    LA By Diana Live Magazine

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  8. That looks so amazing and colourful! I haven't been to a parade for years, missing out on all the fun.

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  9. awesome floats! your photos makes me wish I watched it this year..
    I haven't fully watched the parade since I was young, but every year I walk by it since they do it right through my street lol

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  10. Pamela I would love to go some day to that parade, it's a great tradition, specially love the Lego and the One direction Polar bear floats, and I need one of those penguin dresses for myself, how cute!!
    We don't have santa claus parade in Spain, we have a different one on 5th december for the three wise man have you hear about?
    kisse and have a great week!!!

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  11. This is so great! I love parades :D

    xoxo

    novelstyle.blogspot.com

    p.s. Don't forget to check my Maison Martin Margiela with H&M GIVEAWAY ^^

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  12. Hi Pamela,

    Thank you for your kind comment on my blog. The Santa Clause parade looks like fun! Wish we had something like that in Holland. The kids would love it!

    Happy week!

    Madelief x

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  13. Que interesante, unas fotos muy bonitas.
    Besos

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  14. Hi Pamela, it was fun to see these photos. I used to love going to the Christmas parade as a kid--it was such a big deal! Love those clowns with the neon hair! Hope you are enjoying the holiday season so far!

    xo Mary Jo

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  15. house with cookies is so cool!

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  16. Pamela, just by merely seeing these photos, i feel like I attended the parade too! :)
    Love them all :)



    Jamie Kate
    http://allaroundchekwa.blogspot.com

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    1. Following you now! :) Thanks for dropping by, Pamela! :)

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I enjoy reading your wonderful comments. Thank you for visiting here.

Pamela lives in Toronto, Canada, currently working in Banking in the field of Credit and Finance. The Chic Delights blog has evolved into an on-line magazine about my experiences and inspirations on style, travel, people, lifestyle and current events. My features are not sponsored posts. The photographs and stories featured here are all from my own resources and experiences. [Pamela RG] (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-43Wqs-SmwEU/UggtnO60INI/AAAAAAAAQw0/HZa9oGRC8Bc/w200-h200-no/DSCN0550.jpg)