Santa’s got a brand new float
When Santa’s sleigh touches down in Creemore next weekend for an appearance in the parade, it will have a new landing pad.
A new float will be unveiled on Dec. 6, the result of a community collaboration between the Creemore BIA and various partners who have worked together to assemble a new float.
BIA president Nancy Johnston said the organization, which hosts the Santa Claus parade, was bequeathed $12,000 from John Harper, the man who built the float that was used as Santa’s conveyance for the past 40 years. Harper built the motorized reindeer float in the late 1980s when the Creemore Lions Club hosted the parade.
The money was used to purchase materials for the float – provided at a discount by Hamilton Brothers and assembled over two days by the crew at Ed Leimgardt Contracting and Prosser painting, bringing to life a design created by James Bruer.
Bruer describes his vision for the float as a slice of the North Pole, where Santa can move around and interact with the crowd gathered along the parade route.
The oblong float will be adorned with moguls and trees to represent the hills surrounding the valley. The modular design allows the float to be disassembled and stored by the BIA.
The float is being assembled on a hay wagon provided by Robert McArthur, who, weather permitting, will hitch it to his Belgian horses.
“The fact that all these people have come together to donate their services says more about this community than I could have imagined,” said Johnston, adding that they are all committed to creating an old time feeling for Christmas.
She said she hasn’t been this excited about a project in a long time and she hopes that everyone will come to Mill Street for the 1:30 p.m. parade to see the unveiling of the new float.
The parade begins at the Creemore arena and travels east on Johnston Street, south on Mill Street, east on Edward Street East and north on Mary Street to Caroline Street.
Spectators are asked not to park on Mill Street. Those who wish to view the parade from their vehicles are asked to park on Edward Street East.
After the parade, Santa will go to Creemore Village Green to visit with children.
