Everyone, as they say, loves a parade. But most people don't know exactly what goes into running one.
The annual Flamborough Santa Claus Parade is a wonderful tradition that the Village of Waterdown has celebrated on the last Saturday of November for over 30 years. Some of the most common questions I'm asked is why we need donations and why we need volunteers. And, after we put the call out for help earlier this year, people want to know why we're asking for the community to step up in 2024.
The short answer is this: the parade is not a City of Hamilton event. This has always been a fully volunteer-operated event that relies on community support to make every aspect of the night happen. The first parade organizing committee was a small group of incredibly dedicated volunteers who ran every part of the event themselves. Three decades later, many things have changed and laws are different - and yet we are still just as dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable event for all who attend.
Who makes the parade possible?
Under the direction of the parade coordinator, working with representatives from the four local service clubs and some community-minded volunteers, the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade committee ensures every aspect of this night's festivities are executed with precision and safety in mind. It may look easy, but is a complicated event with many moving parts.
All of these precautions and safety measures are expensive. Items like road closures, police security, lights, communications, marketing, transportation, city services (like garbage cans and washrooms), just to name a few, all cost money. And most people are not aware that the bands that entertain along the route are not free. These organizations charge a fee to perform (normally to cover expenses such as busing and instrument maintenance).
The entries in the parade pay a token fee to take part. The committee keeps this fee affordable, as we know how much it costs to make a float and we think that spending their money on amazing entries is where their focus should be. It's been a reliable practice for us in the past, as we think it's made ours the best nighttime parade in Ontario (perhaps we are biased) due to the extraordinary commitment of our float entries.
Covering costs
The expression, "The parade is free to watch but not free to put on," is a true representation of what we encounter every year. This event costs in excess of $50,000 every year, with gradual increases expected each year. This is what it costs to ensure the event is safe.
We do turn to our community for donations to keep the parade coming back every year, and we are always so grateful for the support we receive. This year, in particular, we have introduced ways to make it easier for everyone who is interested to help. We've launched a GoFund Me campaign and this year TIPTAP will be available during the the parade for those who don't carry cash.
We hope folks realize that all of these efforts are simply to ensure that we never run the risk of losing this amazing holiday tradition.
Thank you to everyone who heeded the call for 2024! We have a new and exciting group of people committed to keeping the parade coming back for 2025, and hopefully for years to come. However, we always need volunteers - so don't be shy. If you love the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade as much as we do, then remember to step up when asked. There will be a role for you.
Stephanie Wilsack is the Co-ordinator of the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade committee.
