The Surrey Santa Parade of Lights is back and it’ll be bigger than last year, says Paul Orazietti.
Orazietti, the executive director of the Cloverdale BIA, the group that organizes the annual parade, said he’s got more than 60 entries already with the 17th annual parade just under a month away.
“We’re definitely going to run a little longer than last year,” he said. “Probably about four or five hundred feet longer.”
LENGTH
Orazietti said the parade route is about 4,200 feet long, so with both security and marshalling concerns, he said 3,500 feet will be his max length. Last year the parade was about 3,000 feet.
“I still have quite a few regulars that haven't registered, but who have said they are coming back,” he explained. “And the firemen don’t like to put an entry in, they just show up. So, I have to account for the possibility they’ll be there.”
Orazietti noted this year’s parade looks like it'll be the first one overseen by the Surrey Police Service as they are set to become the police of jurisdiction in the city on Nov. 29, two days before the parade.
“They have already expressed a desire to take over control of (security for) the parade,” he added.
Another difference this year—because of the amount people expected, coupled with changes from the city regarding pedestrian safety issues—will be new pedestrian corridors, which will cost a whole lot of money to put in. Orazietti said his documentation from the city has ballooned to a 90-page behemoth that is barely manageable.
He said the increased safety requirements also increases the cost to the BIA to hold the event, but he said they already have a few confirmed sponsors and are still looking for a few more.
CHARITY
The Surrey Santa Parade of Lights has never just been about the parade, Orazietti explained. There’s also a charity component to the annual event.
“People are realizing this is a vehicle for generosity,” he said. “And in this economy, the need is greater than ever.”
Orazietti said they’ll have donation bins set up in Hawthorne Square and at Wyndham Estates, a residential property on 176A Street, just north of 58A Avenue. He’s encouraging all parade-goers to bring down non-perishable food items and/or new, unwrapped toys.
“We’re supporting four charities this year,” he added. “The Christmas Hamper Program, two food banks—both the Surrey Food Bank and the Fraser Valley Regional Food Bank—and the Surrey Christmas Bureau.”
He said the charity component adds “more meaning” to the event.
“Some people have been doing this for a very long time and it’s become a labour of love for all those involved. They take it to the next level by encouraging more donations to charity.”
There is no parade entry fee. Instead all float entrants are asked to bring a donation for charity.
FLOATS
“Our first registrant was the City of White Rock in March,” noted Orazietti. “We have some new car clubs this year, we have jaguar and MG. We have the return of all the favourites: the Volkswagen truck, the Lower Mainland remote control car club, the famous Lafarge cement truck, plus another aggregate truck, and a variety of other local trucking companies, plus a lot of sports groups.”
He said they are expecting another very large crowd this year and encouraged everyone to get downtown and find their parade route spots in the afternoon.
“Come down at least an hour early,” he cautioned.
ROUTE
The parade route will be exactly the same as last year. The parade will come out of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds from a marshalling area next to the curling rink, pass Shannon Hall and the B.C. Vintage Truck Museum, and hang a left immediately, parading east on 60th Avenue before turning south on 177B Street. The floats will turn west on 57th before taking a north turn on 176th Street. At 58th Avenue, the parade will turn east and then north up 176A Street and return northbound to the Fairgrounds.
Orazietti said in talking with local business owners, everyone is excited the parade is returning.
“It always builds some excitement in the community,” he added. “People get excited. Business owners get excited. It’s always a great event. And it’s about giving.”
The Surrey Santa Parade of Lights will begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 1 on the Fairgrounds and wend its way through downtown Cloverdale. For more info, visit surreysantaparade.com.
