Kids believe in Santa; adults believe in childhood.
~ Cate Kennedy
The day had been mild for December 5 but the evening temperatures were dropping semi-rapidly. The wind picked up, adding to the chill and yet the childlike excitement in the night air was palpable. Santa Claus was indeed coming to the town of Peterborough.
Montreal and Toronto are known for their Santa parades but despite having lived thirty years in the former city and the better part of three more decades near the latter, I don't recall ever attending one. Peterborough is a small city and its parade route covers most of its main drag. I happen to live within a five minute walk of where it ended which made it easy for me to head over and wait with the growing crowd.
Grab a hat and some gloves, and tuck a potable into your pocket, and come join me.
I imagine that quite a few sugar plum fairies have danced their way through this studio each December.
It's apropos that this brightly-lit truck belonged to our electric company – Peterborough Utilities.
Uh-oh. It looks like some of the lights are making their escape to another float.
Perhaps they just wanted a chance to play on the Ferris wheel – cleverly designed with laundry baskets.
Most floats had their own music but every now and then, a live band would march through to entertain us. I believe this was an air cadets band.
Frosty the Snowman kept pretty comfy on this chilly night.
So did this Saint Bernard. Wait... we're ready for a refill. Share what's in your cask!
Kidlet faces were the most fun to watch. I'll have more of those for you as we go along.
Lakeview Bowling designed this float. Now I know what penguins do in their spare time.
I'm not a sports fan but I enjoyed reading about the Peterborough Huskies – a special needs hockey team for all ages and both genders.
A lightsaber duel in anticipation of The Force Awakens.
This very colourful presentation is from Electric City Live – a music magazine.
A little bit cute. A little bit creepy. But a whole lotta friendly when posing for the camera.
Here's a nod to our friends in New York City... I'm thinking of you, Daryl!
And finally, with the sound of jingling bells and a hearty "Ho Ho Ho," Santa made his way into the crowd.
Sweet faces were full of anticipation.
Santa waved to the wee ones.
And each kidlet knew he was looking right at them.
Bright eyes filled with the magic of the night.
And the beauty of the season.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
50 comments:
Lovely parade and great pictures. Merry Christmas to you as well.
I am so glad this Christmas is working out for you. Great that you are so close to all that is happening. Those children's faces say it all, don't they. May your holiday be filled with good news on your new path.
Christmas is just not as much fun without children...I wonder where I can rent a toddler for a few days.
Hi, dear Hilary!
Seeing the excitement and wonder in the eyes of those children warmed my heart and brought tears to my own eyes. Your city presented a marvelous Christmas parade, filled with music, colorful lights and creative costumes and floats. Thank you very much for sharing the highlights, dear friend Hilary, and happy holidays to you!
Merry Christmas to you. The parade looks like fun.
What a colorful parade. You caught the excitement of the parade. I bet you're sad you missed all the previous parades. Merry Christmas.
Beautiful, Hilary! You've done wonderfully at capturing these night shots. They really communicate the essence of the celebration.Small-town events like this are the best! The Ferris Wheel was terribly clever. Hope you had a good Hanukkah...and that Zephyr wasn't rude when you came back home.
The little guy's face in the red/black jacket says it all. A time of wonder. Love how you captured such good color.
Great pictures, particularly the bright faces of the children. I love pictures of hometown celebrations. Take care and Happy Holidays.
Photos are so very Merry Christmas. Love the expressions on the faces of the little ones. I hope you have a great Holiday season my friend. xoxo Oma Linda and all the Cuckoos in the Casa
Those are fancy floats! Have a great Christmas.
This filled me with childlike delight for real. Thank you dear Hilary
This is a good festive set.
The girl in the band is perfect.
Oh, what fun! I love the looks on the children's faces, such a magical time in their lives!!
Little boy in the plaid coat looks like the poster child for Canada :)
Lots of fun always at a parade. I was in a Flash Mob two nights ago. We went to 5 different retail areas and acted like shoppers until it was time to sing, Silent Night.
You did better with your night parade than I did with mine. I took a "too long" lens. Your parade looks good -- a little above our town parade but still with an exuberant community atmosphere.
Just wonderful! Your pictures are always filled with such magic. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you, too, Hilary! :-)
What fun. Some of those floats were pretty ingenious.
oh, I love the string of lights! and the kids' faces. those smiles and looks of wonder!
OMG. That Ferris wheel is a hoot. Happy Holidays to you! And thanks for dropping by my blog.
The fencers are my favourite!
Run, lights. Run!
Sweet - small town parades are the best! I like the marching lights. Your Santa looks like the real McCoy! Wishing you much happiness in the year ahead, Hilary.
I only made it downtown Minneapolis for a winter parade once when Dagan was little. This was quite a display! Loved it all--except for the more than creepy puppet--shudders. LOL! :)
It looks like you have a wonderful evening each year at the parade! Thank you for the lovely children's faces, even Sweetie thought they were very special.
What a delightful post. Santa glows, the kids are perfect, and the whole entry says delight about living in a small town. :) Thank you, and may your new path glow along with the kids and Santa.
I love parades. Especially Christmas parades.
cute little kids. :) loved that ferris wheel! and like that huge dump truck, too.
Hilary: What a magnificent spirit of fun you've captured here!
Okay, the photos are great and the kids faces adorable, but what really cracked me up was the errant lights. What clever costumes!
Super parade.... I love Christmas Santa Claus parades, everyone seems so happy and full of fun. Have a great holiday season, enjoy your days off. I hope Santa comes to your house, or maybe he has already been....
We`ve just finished ``A Christmas Carol`` production at the local theatre, Callum was Tiny Tim and I was a shopper, a teacher at the school disco dance, and a person at a jig party.... and it was so much fun, great audiences with lots of cheering and applause, now I am exhausted!
Most delightful, more so than those big commercially produced parades of big cities. Thanks for sharing with us, Hilary. Hope your holidays are merry and bright!
I loved those parades when I was a little one. Peterborough puts on a pretty magnificent Canada Day parade too. My Dad used to love that one.
My sister gave me a local coloring book (with illustrations by a local artist) for Christmas. She bought it at a local vet clinic. Today when I was at Chapters, I found ANOTHER coloring book with drawings from Peterborough! I might learn to like that yet.
What a wonderful parade! Our small town also has one at night and this year it poured rain during it and I decided to skip it this year. Your parade made me wish I had taken the time and brave the weather to attend! Really clever floats and those kiddos are adorable and have all the wonder of the season in their eyes! Have a Merry Christmas to you...and a Happy Hanukka!
That looks like a really cute parade. I love the laundry basket ferris wheel - so creative!
Delightful to see how you have captured the wonder in the eyes of kidlets at your Christmas parade. I hope your sons are home for Christmas :) That way the fridge door gets more exercise that usual, and saves buying WD-40. Wishing you childlike wonder at this special time of the year. Merry Christmas, Hilary!
Embarrassed to say I've lived in my town for almost 20 years and never once attended the Christmas parade. They have it right after Thanksgiving and I'm never ever ready to think about it! But maybe if I knew that people dressed up as Christmas lights...maybe then I would make an effort? I do like that idea.
Certainly looks like everyone is ready for Christmas in your 'neck of the woods'! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to more of your lovely photos in 2016.
What fun and festive shots! Wishing you joy and good things.
i wonder the connection between your Radio City and ours ... i should get myself to midtown and get some holiday photos but this weather has been so not seasonal i seem to lack the proper spirit ... and the photo of those two little girls called to mind your former neighbors back in Toronto
You are such a good photographer! The settings mystify me. I just cannot figure them out!
What a wonderfully clever set of floats!!!!
What sweet photos!
We have a holiday parade in our little city but I have never attended either. It just doesn't seem like fun, standing out in the freezing cold at night. This year's weather does make it sound more appealing. :)
That dummy is super creepy to me. Freaks me out a bit.
The kids' faces are the best! Great captures!
what a lovely parade, dear hilary! loved that ferris wheel. and i totally enjoyed your photos. thanks so much for sharing.
merry christmas!
wish you and yours all the best in 2016~
lots of love!
The parade looks wonderful!! Merry Christmas Hilary!
Christmas parades should be at night, like this one. I really like that Ferris Wheel!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos, Hilary. This was so much fun! Thank you also for visiting and your kind message. Happy Holidays.
If there's anything better than a festive holiday parade, it's getting to enjoy one in the comfort of my own warm home because you've captured it so beautifully!
Thank you and I hope your holidays are full of peace and joy.
--Crabby
Hilary,
Thinking of you today and wishing you the Merriest of Christmases!!!!
I really like those walking lights.:)
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