71st Montreal Santa Claus Parade
Posted November 25, 2023 12:10 pm.
Last Updated November 25, 2023 6:58 pm.
Temperatures hovering around zero degrees did little to deter thousands of Montrealers from enjoying the annual Santa Claus Parade downtown Saturday morning.
Back for its 71st edition, the parade saw hundreds of costumed participants, mascots, dancers – and of course Saint Nick himself – march on René-Lévesque, up Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and across Sainte-Catherine Street toward the Place des Festivals.
Once there, Santa greeted children inside Complexe Desjardins.
“It’s a beautiful day outside, it’s so nice to be here to celebrate,” one person told CityNews.
“Each year we come here, loved seeing him,” said another.
Others came from out of town.
“We came from new York and everyone is so super friendly here,” said one woman.
“We will be back next year,” her husband added.
A couple of Montreal Alouettes players were part of the parade and they brought with them the city’s latest prized possession: the Grey Cup.
About 50 young patients from hospitals across Montreal were brought to the parade by Urgences-santé via ambulance or adapted buses to share in the holiday cheer.
Paramedics and volunteer pre-hospital care students took care of the kids, who had big smiles on their faces.
“It’s just such a magical moment. So nice to see the smiles on their faces,” said Urgences-santé spokesperson Vanessa Grillo.
The parade was shown on screens at Dorchester Square for those not lining the streets.
