Santa Claus is coming to Belleville

By Matthew Murray

BELLEVILLE – Holiday cheer is coming to Belleville on Sunday when the annual Santa Claus parade makes its way through city streets.

There are a record-breaking 90 entries for this year’s event, Belleville Chamber of Commerce special events coordinator Susan Walsh said. In previous years, the event  averaged around 75 to 80 applicants looking to participate, she added.

Schools, churches and local businesses are all groups looking to take part in this year’s, she said. For the first time ever, CFB Trenton will be participating, Walsh added,  joining over 25 other community organizations that are marching in the parade for the first time. Four marching bands, as well as live music playing from the top of floats, will also be a part of the event.

The parade will start at 4:30 p.m at the corner of Bridge Street West and Sidney Street and march from Bridge Street down Front Street into the downtown. The floats will travel up North Front Street where the parade will then end at the corner of North Front Street and King George Square.

The parade route was changed so that the floats could have a larger assembly space at the Quinte Exhibition fairgrounds, Walsh said. The parade was extended along Bridge Street because participants told the Chamber of Commerce they felt the route was too short, she added.