Credit: London Santa Claus Parade
Londoners will be able to see Santa Claus riding his sleigh down Dundas Street this weekend as the annual Santa Claus Parade returns.
Inflation has started to cause some headaches for the parade organizers. Shaun Merton, executive director and chairman of the Santa Claus parade, told XFM news that just a few years ago, the parade cost between $30,000-$35,000.
This year, he estimates it will cost over $50,000.
“Every year it’s tough to raise money, it gets harder and harder as the economy gets harder and harder,” says Merton.
The rising cost of insurance, entertainers, gas, and one unexpected expense is creating obstacles for organizers, “the policing bill is up over 30 per cent from last year. An extra $3,000-$4,000 is a lot of money on a shoestring budget.”
Merton says that the cost of policing for this year’s parade will be around $14,000.
“In September I wasn’t sleeping because I didn’t know if we were going to be able to put on a parade,” says Merton.
“We would never put on a parade if we didn’t have the money. There have been lots of years where a bunch of us dipped into our own pockets.”
Merton goes on to say, “we are actually down $12,000 in funding this year.”
The parade has a new route this year. Santa will begin his route at Dundas Street and Ontario Street, head west on Dundas and conclude at Ridout Street.
The theme for this year’s parade is ‘A Candy Christmas.’ It is scheduled for this Saturday, November 16th at 6 p.m..
“There are some phenomenal floats, I’m really excited,” says Merton.
“The dance groups, the entertainers, the entries that are going to be in it are going to be incredible.”
This has been an annual tradition in London since 1954. It is not run by the City of London. The parade organizers are responsible for the costs associated with organizing and presenting the parade each year.
Bobnoxious, Shelly Rastin, and Tianguo are scheduled to perform during the parade.
