Ho, ho, ho! Stay tuned for updates involving the 2023 Santa Claus Parade.
About the 2022 Event
Parade route: Main Street, from White Avenue to Lakeshore Drive
When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022
Time: 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Free Park & Ride Service
BC Transit and the City of Penticton are offering a free shuttle service to take people to the Santa Claus Parade and the Penticton Vees game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. First, park at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre and pop inside to grab your essential items. Then hop on the shuttle downtown. The bus will pick up from two locations (Cherry Lane and the SOEC parking lot), taking people to the parade.
Shuttle to the parade: Picks up at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre at 3:45 p.m. (from the Warren Avenue bus stop), then picks up at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) parking lot, drops off at Main Street & Wade Avenue, ahead of the Santa Claus Parade, which starts at 4:30 p.m.
Shuttle to the SOEC/Vees game or back to Cherry Lane: Picks up at Main Street & Wade Avenue at 6 p.m. and shuttles to the Vees game at the SOEC, before continuing to Cherry Lane Shopping Centre for those people not attending the game.
Shuttle after Vees game: Picks up at 9:30 p.m. & 10 p.m.: Shuttle leaves SOEC to return to Cherry Lane Shopping Centre.
The Penticton Vees Teddy Bear Toss game start at 7 p.m., so you can head over after the Santa Claus Parade for a fun, family-friendly night out.
This year, the Vees are asking fans to bring something outside of teddy bears as many families are in need of blankets, kids/infant clothes, diapers, gloves, jackets, toque, etc. They will also have bins at the front if you wish to donate food.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. with puck drop at 7 p.m.
Road Closure Details
A section of Main Street will be temporarily closed to traffic on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, to allow for the Santa Claus Parade. BC Transit will also be detouring routes 2, 3, 5 & 10 from 3-6:30 pm, with further details available on their website.
Road closure time: Dec. 3 from 3-7 p.m. Please move parked vehicles from the route by 2:30 p.m.
Location: Main Street between Eckhardt Avenue and Lakeshore Drive.
Event details: Parade starts at 4:30 p.m. at White Avenue and will proceed north along Main Street toward Lakeshore Drive.Additional info: Floats will stage in the Penticton Secondary School parking lot, so motorists should anticipate slow-moving parade traffic in the area.
Due to the parade, BC Transit has arranged some detouring for routes 2, 3, 5 & 10. Visit their news release for the details.
Seeking Volunteers
The City of Penticton is looking to recruit volunteers to assist with the return of the parade. Duties include barricade intersection control, marshalling assistance and parade route support. If interested, please email shawna.guitard@penticton.ca or call 250-609-2445.
Application for Parade Floats
Is your business or organization interested in entering a float into the parade? The fee to enter is $50 including taxes and the deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.
The City of Penticton reserves the right to decline any entry and grants authority to the parade organizers and their staff to remove any entry at their discretion. Please review the entry guidelines below.
1.0 SANTA PARADE ENTRY AND PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
The City of Penticton’s priority is to ensure the safety of all parade participants and members of the public watching the Santa parade and to ensure that entries comply with local health and safety regulations.
The City of Penticton reserves the right to decline any entry and grants authority to the parade organizers and their staff to remove any entry at their discretion.
2.0 GENERAL PARADE REGULATIONS
2.1 Santa Claus has requested he be the ONLY Santa in the parade – please respect this request and do not have any Santa impersonators.
2.2 The ultimate responsibility for safety lies with each individual entry. Entries must comply with all regulations and must adhere to any relevant government regulations, safety codes, manufacturers’ recommendations and similar standards necessary to safely operate floats and equipment.
2.3 Throwing any item, including candy or promotional items, from floats in not allowed. Individuals my walk alongside the float to distribute these items to people.
2.4 Smoking, alcoholic beverages and other controlled substances are forbidden on any float, in any vehicle, or on the person of any parade participant. Violators of this rule are subject to removal from the parade.
2.5 Children under 10 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
3.0 FLOAT REGULATIONS
3.1 Proper parade route distance is 50 to 75 feet from the entry in front of you. Please cooperate with the Parade Marshals should they ask you to speed up or slow down.
3.2 All entries must be identified and clearly marked with the name of business or organization.
3.3 Floats must be capable of clearing all obstacles. Inflatable items are permissible on a flat, but must not be inflated while driving outside of the parade route.
3.4 Vehicle insurance is mandatory and is the responsibility of the parade participant.
3.5 Motorized vehicles towing a float or motorized floats must carry a working and fully serviced fire extinguisher. All fire extinguishers must be readily accessible to the driver operator.
3.6 No flammable gas, flammable liquids or open flame may be carried on the float.
3.7 The driver of each float must have a valid driver’s license and remain with the vehicle at all times.
3.8 Float drivers must have unobstructed 180 degree vision.
3.9 Each float rider must have appropriate body support, seatbelts or hand holds bolted to the float. In special cases, the parade organizer may authorize the use of railings around the perimeter of the deck. This railing must be of solid construction.
3.10 Float drivers and float riders must have rapid means of escape in an emergency. No person shall be wired or tied in a manner which means they cannot release themselves quickly.
3.11 Float riders are not permitted on vehicle roofs or on roof racks.
3.12 Offenders of this policy will not be permitted to participate in future parades until improvements to their float are completed to the satisfaction of the parade organizer.
Thank You to Our Sponsor
Have Questions?
City Hall general contact questions: 250-490-2400.
If you have questions about entering a float, email shawna.guitard@penticton.ca or call 250-609-2445.