For some, the holiday season hasn’t really arrived until they’ve seen a parade. The floats, lights, and jolly ‘ol Saint Nick’s belly jiggling like a bowl full of jelly just seems to turn the season from simply “winter” into a celebration of hope and joy.
Well, those people are in luck. As has become tradition here in Campbell River, the trucks will be out tonight (Friday) in all their splendour – decked out in lights, inflatable snowmen, glistening Christmas trees and happy smiling faces, bringing the joy of the season to those they pass on the South Island highway.
The trucks will leave from Rockland Road at 5 p.m. and arrive downtown at Tyee Plaza (the last truck is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m.) where they will remain on display for all to enjoy.
While the trucks are en route, the first 300 children at Spirit Square will receive a free glow stick while Shoo Shoo the Clown entertains along with Annie Handley and Dave Devindisch performing on stage.
Gather around the fire pit and wait for the jolliest of fellows in red to arrive with Mayor Andy Adams for the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony, or peruse the downtown shops participating in Starlight Shopping and finish up – or for some of us, begin – your Christmas shopping, raking in the deals and supporting local retailers.
Newly-elected co-chairs of the Downtown Business Improvement Association Lisa Whitmore and Heather Gordon Murphy, along with their board and events coordinator Jan Wade are excited to invite the public down to the city’s core to celebrate the community.
“Being in downtown Campbell River, one is always surrounded by amazing natural beauty. No matter where you may be in downtown, when you look up you will see trees, mountains, and often the ocean. In the very recent past there have been new buildings, renovations and businesses popping up in various parts of downtown,” they say.
“So if you haven’t been downtown in a while, we invite you to come on down, have a walk around, take in our beautiful sights, stop into a shop and have a chat … and don’t forget to look up!”