The Santa Claus Parade will light up Parksville again this weekend with a new route across downtown.
Organizer Kim Burden said they always get a lot of late entries so he doesn’t know how many there will be, but estimated over 30.
“It’s growing every year,” he said of the five year old event which is meant to kick off the Christmas season and get people shopping in downtown Parksville.
Organized by the informal Christmas in Oceanside group, some streets will begin to close around 4:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon (Dec. 3) as the parade begins to take shape on Morison Avenue near the clock tower.
It starts at 5 p.m. by heading away from downtown to turn left up McMillian Street and left again on Harrison Avenue back toward downtown and then up the Alberni Highway.
The parade will turn left on Hirst Avenue in front of the Rod and Gun, left down Craig Street and right on Middleton Avenue past The News’ office.
The parade will then head up McCarter Street away from the water, left on Jensen and left on Corfield to conclude at the Thrifty Centre.
Organizers are working with the city, RCMP and Citizens on Patrol to minimize the impact on traffic, which will blocked as the parade heads downtown.