With the month of November drawing to a close and Christmas lights and decorations going up all over the city, can the Santa Parade be far behind?
This year’s parade will go on Friday, Dec. 2 starting at 7 p.m. at the Selkirk College parking lot at Grand Forks.
It will go down 72nd Avenue, up 2nd Street, down Market Avenue, down 4th Street finishing at the Selkirk parking lot.
The parade committee, Bud Alcock, Dale Best, Beverly Osachoff and Chris-Anne Gilmore, has had three planning meetings already and a misunderstanding led to this year’s theme – Twisted Night Before Christmas.
“It was actually a mistake,” explains Gilmore.
“We were brainstorming and someone said ‘Twas the night before Christmas but we heard Twisted Night before Christmas and then we started laughing.”
Gilmore said that past themes included Santa’s Workshop, a Country Christmas, Painting the Town Red and Light up the Town (last year).
She said the committee had fun with it and they thought that the community would have fun with it as well.
In the case of Gilmore and her place of business, they will dress up like snowmen sitting by a fireplace and she hopes other people get creative and fun with the theme – she says that while some may go the traditional route with their parade floats, she has heard some people will use their imagination as well.
Following the parade, the usual Moonlight Madness shopping will take place, with many downtown merchants staying open late and prior to the parade, (between 5:30 and 7 p.m.) at Grand Forks Credit Union, there will be opportunities for people to have their picture taken with Santa Claus – photos will cost $5 and proceeds will go to Boundary Success by 6 initiative helping local families and children.
After the parade St. Nick will be available for photos at the bowling alley. Select merchants will have hot chocolate and the girl guides will be selling their mint cookies as well.