CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
If you were downtown this past weekend in Parksville, there's a good chance you saw Santa Claus.
The inaugural Santa by the Sea event took place Saturday morning as shoppers and merchants geared up for the Christmas season.
Hosted by the Parksville Downtown Business Association, the event encouraged Parksville residents to keep their shopping local and see what our city stores have to offer. Participating businesses were asked to set up or dress up a unique version of Santa Claus and shoppers were asked to vote for their favorite one. Voting began last Saturday and continues until Dec. 18. Get out and vote for your favorite Santa for your chance to win a Gotta Love Downtown Basket full of products donated by downtown merchants (you can also vote at www.pqbnews.com/contests).
Additionally, the Beach 88.5 FM was playing live music on location and volunteers from Big Boys Toys' MoHo Hospitality were collecting food and cash donations to give to local food banks this Christmas.