Santa Claus parade will follow nighttime route through downtown core in Mississauga

Mississauga’s new Santa Claus parade will follow a nighttime route through the downtown core and city officials expect it to be bigger and better than ever.

Themed “Shine Bright, Sauga!”, the parade takes place this year on Saturday, Nov. 22 starting at 6 p.m. The plan is to stage the event alongside Mississauga’s annual Christmas tree lighting, which takes place at Celebration Square.

“So it’s going to be one large party,” an enthusiastic Mayor Carolyn Parrish said earlier this year when revealing preliminary plans for the parade.

City of Mississauga officials said this week the new evening parade “invites participants to deck their floats or costumes with bright, colourful LEDs and shine a light on their culture, holiday traditions and proud community spirit.”

Parrish noted this week the annual Light Up the Square event is already “one of our most popular and cherished traditions, and adding the parade makes it even more special.”

She added the festive late-November evening promises to be more than just a celebration, saying “it’s an opportunity for families, neighbours and visitors to come together, experience the magic of the season and showcase the diversity that makes Mississauga shine bright all year long.”

Parrish said earlier organizers had “plotted out a route” for the parade that won’t block off Burnhamthorpe Road, Rathburn Road or Confederation Parkway — among the downtown core’s busiest routes.

The city says community groups, businesses, cultural organizations and performers are invited to showcase their holiday spirit and creativity by joining the parade. Applications that meet the participant criteria will be evaluated on a first-come, first-serve basis, officials added.