Skip to content

Big Truck Parade rolls into town tonight

The Big Truck Parade and Starlight Shopping is tonight
4116campbellriverStarlightShoppingWEB
Doug Folkins will entertain at Spirit Square during Starlight Shopping tonight at 6:15 p.m. The local Celtic folk singer/songwriter has a new album

The fourth annual truck parade kicks off the Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Starlight Shopping tonight.

Jan Tees, the BIA’s events co-ordinator says it’s an event you won’t want to miss.

“There is nothing like watching these rolling works of art,” Tees says. “The parade is magical. Again this year, we have more than 30 participants taking the time and making the effort to become involved. We have trucks of all description – antique fire trucks, dump trucks, semi trailers, crane trucks, tow trucks, a school bus, cement mixers and trucks towing boats.”

Starting at 5 p.m. at the bottom of Rockland Road the parade of shining trucks adorned with Christmas lights and decorations will travel along the Old Island Highway arriving at Tyee Plaza at approximately 6 p.m. where Coun.  Andy Adams will be front and centre as emcee for the opening ceremonies in Spirit Square

“On board the last truck driven by the Campbell River Fire Department will be the Big Guy himself – Santa,” Tees says. “With Santa will be a lucky boy or girl who has won the opportunity through 97.3 the Eagle to ride in the fire truck and help Santa light up the big Sequoia Tree in the Plaza.”

This will be the fourteenth year the Campbell River BIA has marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season with the Starlight Shopping event.

“Downtown comes alive,” Tees says. “Shoppers Row, Tyee Plaza, 11th Avenue and Pier Street businesses decorate their windows and stores.  Most stores are open until 11 p.m. offering special promotions plus hot mulled cider, hot chocolate, cookies or appetizers.”

There will be entertainment everywhere you look. Spirit Square will feature Doug Folkins, Cat & the B-Sides, Shoo Shoo the Clown and the Willow Point Old School Jugglers.

To keep everybody toasty there will be a fire pit compliments of Spirit Square Manager Jim Creighton.

Pacifica Ukes, Carihi Composition, the Salvation Army Brass Band, Job’s Daughters, the Girl Guides and Detailed Face Painting will liven up Tyee Plaza with music, face painting, taffy pulling, hot chocolate and cookie decorating. Children will enjoy pictures with Santa plus free glow sticks, candy canes, reindeer hats and colouring books.

All this will be scented by the aromas of warm mini-donuts, Kettle Korn, a salmon barbeque and tacos.

Tees says there’s something for everything.

“Take a stroll over to the Art Gallery and learn how to create home-made Christmas cards. Head up 11th Avenue and check out the inviting shops,” she says. “Wander along Shoppers Row and enjoy the new Christmas lighting of red and green set off by white snowflakes. Stop in at Shot in the Dark and listen to the music of Fiftieth Parallel.

“A quick hop across the street from Spirit Square and you can enjoy music and coffee at Nesbitt’s Island Coffee and dancing by Raincoast Creative in the Tidemark Courtyard.”