Santa Claus Parade

Please follow the Santa Claus Parade Protocols:

• Respect parade marshals - they are there to keep you and your family safe during this fun and festive event
• Be considerate and allow families with children to sit in front
• Don’t smoke
• Wear your rain gear; umbrellas block the view
• Don’t climb on or sit atop of anything belonging to others
• Do not set up tents, they block the view of others 

• The parade distance is approx. 2km in length.
• The parade duration is approximately 60 to 90 minutes from when the first float starts off (6:00 pm) until it reaches its destination (125 Simcoe Road).

• NEW Holland St W, beginning at Professor Day/Melbourne to Holland St E at Barrie/Simcoe Road. Spectators are not permitted on Simcoe Road
• All locations will have a great view of the parade. Show up early to find a great spot. Please remember to choose a safe location off of the road as some floats and bands will use the entire width of the road.
• All areas along the route are wheelchair accessible.
• Please be advised that a portion of the sidewalk adjacent to 123 Holland Street West will be temporarily closed due to ongoing construction activities. For the safety of all spectators, please do not view the parade from the roadway in this area. Visitors are encouraged to use the nearest available open sidewalk

The South Simcoe Police will have additional police officers out to help with security. If you are caught disrupting the parade in any way or found in a dangerous area, you are subject to possible removal from the premise. Please respect the officers to ensure a safe and fun event for all in attendance.

• Dress in layers to keep warm
• Wear fleece, waterproof jackets and comfortable waterproof footwear
• Wear a hat or earmuffs
• Please remember that umbrellas will block the view of others in attendance

 There will be NO parking permitted on the parade route during the event. Any cars found parked along the route will be towed at the owners expense. The streets will open again following the parade.  

Parking for participants viewing the parade is available at:

• BWG Leisure Centre (471 West Park Ave)
• BWG Library (425 Holland Street West)
• 31 Barrie Street
• 24 John Street West
• 29 Drury Street 

The County of Simcoe Paramedics will be at the parade collecting toys for their holiday toy drive. Look out for the ambulance and paramedics at the very beginning of the parade.  

As per By-law 2014-70, a Business License must be obtained by every Hawker or Peddler. 
Hawkers and Peddlers License Application
Applications and questions can be directed to the Licensing Officer

• At the Parade Safety Meeting you will be provided with information including your float #, float drop-off times and locations and other staging details.
• For the entertainment and enjoyment of those watching the parade, all parade participants (parents included, if they are walking with their children) must be dressed in appropriate Christmas attire or uniforms.
• Please make sure all participants (drivers too!) act, dress and behave appropriate to the season. Smiles and waves are mandatory! Please remember the BWG Santa Claus Parade is for the enjoyment of the spectators - children of all ages. Please don't disappoint - make sure your entry is festively decorated!
• To participate in the parade you must read and agree to the Float Rules & Safety Information, and complete the online float application form. Once your application has been approved by the committee you will receive an acceptance e-mail.
• The parade will start at 6:00pm on Professor Day Drive in front of Bradford District High School. The parade route will travel south on Professor Day Drive to Holland Street, east along Holland Street until Simcoe Road, and finally south on Simcoe Road ending at the Bradford & District Community Centre.

• All entries must relate to the holiday season.
• As this is a nighttime parade, all floats must be illuminated with a minimum of 500 lights and be designed and constructed to ensure safety and reliability.
• No entry may depict Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, or Santa's Float. Violation of this rule will result in immediate expulsion from the parade.
• No entry shall exceed 13 feet in height.
• No entry may depict anything political, controversial, or otherwise offensive.
• All entries, both commercial and non-commercial, must keep advertising to a minimum.
• No entry may distribute literature, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, flyers, or any other written or printed material to spectators.
• Entries must be suitable and entertaining for a family audience. Music is strongly encouraged. Please play Christmas music only. All music and audio played as part of a parade entry must be appropriate for a family audience and must not contain profanity, swearing, explicit lyrics, discriminatory language, or other offensive content. Parade Officials reserve the right to require music to be turned off or changed if deemed inappropriate.
• All vehicles must be in good mechanical condition and properly serviced prior to the parade.
• All vehicles must provide valid vehicle insurance. Failure to do so will result in your vehicle being barred from entering the parade. 
• Provisions for emergency towing must be available on all motorized entries.
• Antique vehicles are permitted as a mode of transportation for invited guests or as part of an entry.
• Automobiles are restricted to a mode of transportation for invited guests; dignitaries etc. and are not acceptable as a sole entry.
• SUV's, pick-up trucks and flatbed cabs are restricted to being a towing unit only and should be decorated to match the float/entry they are towing.
• E-scooters and E-bikes are not permitted in the parade staging area, parade route, or de-staging area.

• No material (including candy) may be thrown from any entry. It must be distributed by hand along the edge of the parade route. Children will dart into the street for thrown items and could be injured very easily. 
• No entry may distribute literature, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, flyers or any other written or printed material to the spectators of the parade.
• Any entry caught throwing candy or otherwise breach of this rule may be required to exit the parade immediately and excluded from any future parades.
• All fuel tanks should be topped off just prior to the parade. Any type of fuel storage receptacle other than original equipment will not be allowed on any parade entry.
• All motorized vehicles must carry a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
• Participants in the parade shall not be consuming or giving the impression of consuming alcoholic beverages, and shall refrain from smoking during their participation in the parade. 

• Arrival & Check-in.
• Due to construction activities, participants are not permitted to park at 125 Simcoe Road.
• Participants must utilize the designated parking area and shuttle bus service provided by the Town.
• Volunteers will be available at the high school beginning at 2:00 p.m.
• The high school building will open at 2:30 p.m. for participant use. 

Designated Arrival Times

• To assist with traffic flow and staging operations, participants are required to arrive during their assigned time slot:
  • 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Please do not delay arrival until the end of your assigned time slot, as the staging area becomes increasingly congested.
• Participants who wish to be eligible for float judging are strongly encouraged to arrive early enough to ensure their float is fully staged, decorated, illuminated, and ready for judging by 4:30 p.m.

Float Entry Points

• To improve staging efficiency:
  • Small and standard-sized floats must enter staging from Blue Dasher Boulevard.
  • Large and oversized floats must enter staging from the intersection of Professor Day Drive and Blue Dasher Boulevard. 
• Float Check-In
  • Please pull into the inside lane and look for volunteers wearing safety vests stationed at the entry point to check-in and be directed to your staging location. 
  • Ensure your float number is prominently displayed on the driver's side of the float. 
  • It is the responsibility of the float representative to ensure all participants know the name and number of their float. 

Rider Requirements

• Riders are not permitted on floats or parade entries while traveling to the staging area. 
  • This requirement is supported by Town by-laws and requests from South Simcoe Police Service. 
• Riders may only board their float within the designated staging area. 
• Riders may remain on the float only while travelling along the parade route to the final destination at the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre. 
• Participants may not mount or dismount from a float along the parade route except in the event of an emergency. 
• Once an entry reaches the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre, all riders must immediately disembark. 
• Shuttle Service & Participant Transportation 
  • Shuttle buses will transport participants from the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre back to Bradford District High School. 
  • Participants should make arrangements in advance for pickup either at at Bradford District High School. 
• Special Request
  • Once riders have been safely dropped off at the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre, drivers are encouraged to continue past the seniors' residence on 6th Line with their lights illuminated and music playing so residents may also enjoy the holiday display. 

• All instructions from Parade Marshals and Parade Officials must be followed.
• Failure to comply with directions may result in removal from the parade and may affect eligibility to participate in future parades. 
• Parade Marshals and Officials reserve the right to remove any entry at any time due to safety concerns or interference with the progress of the parade. 

First time building a float? Looking for direction? 
Take a look at our Float Making Guide

New this year, the Town of BWG Council will be awarding prizes for:

1. The Mayor's Trophy (best overall)
2. Best Commercial/Business Float
3. Best Non-Profit float

Floats will be judged based on the following:

• Effort: Adherence to the rules, use of space, organization and planning
• Quality: Adherence to theme, effective presentation, use of decor, lights and music
• Appearance and Originality: Style, presentation, design, overall appearance, and originality

Judging will begin promptly at 4:30pm. In order to be included in judging your float must be in place, fully lit and decorated with all participants by 4:30pm.