Montreal’s Santa Claus Parade is coming to town!
Posted November 2, 2023 2:00 pm.
Last Updated November 2, 2023 11:10 pm.
Mark your calendars – Montreal’s Santa Claus Parade returns for its 71st edition on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Its magical new details were announced Thursday at Santa’s very own press conference downtown.
The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. and take place on a new route due to construction: starting on René-Lévesque, in front of Place Ville Marie’s Esplanade PVM, then up Robert-Bourassa and onto Sainte-Catherine to end at Place des Festivals – where Santa will then head inside Complexe Desjardins to meet with children.
“We have over 400 participants in the parade itself,” said Glenn Castanheira, Executive Director of Montréal centre-ville. “We are very, very excited.”
This year, the Parade will also be broadcasted live on TVA, and shown on screens at Montreal’s Dorchester Square. Spectators can come together there starting at 10 a.m. to meet Santa’s Elves, and take part in more winter festivities.
Aside from Mr. Claus himself, also in the parade: hundreds of dancers.
“The theme really is dancing,” explained Castanheira. “Sharing that moving, keeping warm if were expecting a cold day.”
And who is this year’s Star Fairy at the parade?
Canadian systems engineer, Farah Alibay.
Alibay, who was born in Montreal and lived in Joliette, gained international notoriety when she worked with NASA on the Perseverance rover, which arrived on Mars in 2021.
She has since written a biography and works on the SPHEREx telescope.
In a press release, Alibay says it’s “comical” for her to find herself in this role, since she’s “always in the stars.”
“I am very proud to have this opportunity to be able to bring a message of self-realization to young people: dream big, live your dreams and you will see that the stars are not so inaccessible!”
Last year, drag queen Barbada starred in the parade.
Also Nov. 25th – the start of Le Grand Marché de Noël at Quartier des spectacles. Until Dec. 30th Montrealers can take part in cultural, festive and culinary activities here during the holiday season.
More than 400,000 spectators are expected to attend the Santa Claus Parade.
“If you want to experience one of the biggest gatherings in Canada,” said Castanheira. “It is the Montreal Santa Clause Parade.”
“It really is just magic!”
-With files from The Canadian Press
