One of the many groups that participate with a float in the annual Kin Club of Witless Bay Santa Claus Parade is the Mobile Central High School council. The parade features groups from throughout the north end of the Southern Shore, from Tors Cove to Bay Bulls, and is always well-attended by spectators along the parade route in Witless Bay. Agnes Westcott photo
By Mark Squibb
The Witless Bay Area Kinsmen Club is hosting its 45th annual Santa Claus Parade this weekend.
While it may be easy to take the annual parade for granted, it doesn’t happen without a lot of work, and maybe just a little Christmas magic.
Kin Club member Chris Swain said that initial planning begins about six weeks before the parade, when Kin Club members begin to call a host of people and businesses, including Town staff, St. Bernard’s school, and the big man himself.
Once a date has been set in stone and the school gym booked for the after-parade lunch, Kin members reach out to a number of volunteers outside the Kin Club who help with everything from directing traffic to serving lunch.
Even after all that, there’s still lots to do in the week leading up the parade. 50/50 prizes and raffle tickets need to be secured, hot dogs need to be purchased, award plaques need to be finalized, and Santa’s sleigh needs to be given a final inspection to make sure it’s road ready.
“We have a spreadsheet and over the six weeks we just gradually check things off as we’re going, making sure everything is done as it’s needed,” said Swain.
The parade is “100 percent” a community effort, he noted, adding the Knights of Columbus help with the raffle, while members of the Witless Bay Days Committee help sell 50/50 tickets. Other volunteers help dish out hot dogs and drinks to hungry paradegoers. There are also volunteers who walk the parade to keep an eye on things and make sure no one is in trouble.
“Making sure that everybody is safe is the number one priority for us,” said Swain, who reckoned there’s upwards of 30 volunteers on the ground for parade day. Hundreds, meanwhile, participate in the parade itself.
“We have great support from the towns (Bay Bulls and Witless Bay) and from the (Tors Cove) local service district,” said Swain. “And we have people coming for the parade, people supporting our raffle, people offering to help, and all that kind of thing. And all the different organizations, minor hockey, Mobile High School and the Girl Guides and Brownies, they’ll all enter a float or walk, and the local cadet marching band will be there. So, it’s really a regional event that just so happens to happen in Witless Bay.”
Swain has been involved in the parade one way or another the last 20 years, and said the time and energy spent organizing it is always rewarded on parade day.
“For me, it’s worth it when you walk up through Witless Bay and see the kids – and adults – and see how happy they are,” said Swain. “Everybody has a smile on their face, everybody will give you a handshake.”
The Kin Club boasts about a dozen active members, and a number of volunteers waiting in the wings. Swain said the club is always looking for new members
This year’s parade will begin at Dean’s Road at 10:30 a.m. Following the parade, folks are invited to head down to St. Bernard’s School for a hot dog lunch, raffle, and meet and greet with Santa.
Deans Road will be open only to one-way traffic from 9:30 until 11, and folks are asked to enter by the Community Credit Union.
