St. Thomas Optimist Club
The St. Thomas Optimist Club is getting ready to spread some holiday cheer once again, with the return of the annual St. Thomas Optimist Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, November 22nd.
myFM sat down with Optimist Club member Gar Shaw, who says the parade – which kicks off around 6 p.m. – is all about community spirit and family fun.
This year’s theme is A Charlie Brown Christmas, inviting participants to get creative with floats inspired by the beloved Peanuts gang. Registration does remain open until November 12th, with a small fee of $35 for non-profits and $50 for businesses to help cover costs.
As usual, the parade will begin at Talbot and First Avenue, heading west through downtown St. Thomas and wrapping up at Elgin Street. Shaw recommends families find a viewing spot further along the route, where crowds are a bit lighter.
While the event is designed for families, Shaw reminds everyone that throwing candy is not permitted to ensure the safety of children along the parade route.
He notes the Optimist Club spends nearly a year organizing the event, with volunteers working behind the scenes to coordinate floats, manage logistics, and ensure everything runs smoothly.
And yes — Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance, joined by members of the St. Thomas Fire Department, who will be collecting non-perishable food donations for the local food bank.
Canada Post will also be on hand the night of the parade to collect letters for Santa. Now in its 39th year, the parade remains one of the Optimist Club’s biggest community events — and a hallmark of the holiday season in St. Thomas shares Shaw.
For registration details or to learn more, visit optimistsantaclausparade.weebly.com.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
