Holiday season starts Santa Claus Parade and Winter Lights Festival in Brampton

A weekend of events will officially start the holiday season in Brampton.

The Santa Claus Parade and Winter Lights Festival will usher in the holiday season starting on Saturday, and the city is inviting residents to ring in some holiday cheer.

The parade starts at 5 p.m., and there will be partial road closures from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Queen Street East at Bramalea Road and on Bovaird Drive at Bramalea Road.

And for those who can’t make it to the parade in person, the event will be broadcast on YouTube.

There will be no parking on the parade route, and some lots will only be accessible from Bramalea Road and North Park Drive.

The parade will run rain, shine or snow. Organizers say the parade takes approximately 60 minutes to pass by and is expected to wrap up by 6 p.m.

Brampton’s Santa Claus Parade dates back 30 years, and has had attendance of over 45,000 in past years.

– With files from Steve Pecar