The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade is officially cancelled this year
The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Society has cancelled the 2020 Vancouver Santa Claus Parade due to COVID-19, after “months of exploring alternative formats and options” that would allow it to go ahead in some way.
“The health and safety of our participants and spectators will always be our highest priority,” said parade producer Elyse Gawley. “While current guidelines for public gatherings preclude us from staging the parade this year, our hope is to return in 2021, when we can better ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.”
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For 16 years, the annual parade has thrilled audiences of all ages with crowds of 300,000 flocking to downtown Vancouver to watch marching bands, choirs, float entries and community groups perform along the 1.8-km route.
In addition to kicking off the holiday season, the event celebrates the spirit of giving by generating donations for those in need across the Lower Mainland.
The cancellation of this year’s event also means the following events will not be held:
- Breakfast with Santa at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
- Christmas Square (pre-parade entertainment in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery)
- Photos with Santa at TELUS Garden
“On behalf of our organizing committee, I want to thank our sponsors and parade participants for their patience as we worked to find a way to stage this year’s parade,” said Gawley. “We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas in 2020.”
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