Ho-ho-ho! Santa Claus Parade draws big crowds in downtown Vancouver
Thousands packed streets to cheer on the man in red at 16th annual parade
Santa Claus made an appearance Sunday in downtown Vancouver — and brought a bit of snow with him.
Thousands packed Georgia and Howe streets to cheer on the man in red for the 16th annual Vancouver Santa Claus Parade, just as snow started to fall in parts of the Lower Mainland.
Vancouver police said its estimates pegged the crowd at 20,000 to 30,000 people in size.
The 1.8-kilometre parade route kicked off at the intersection of Georgia and Broughton Streets at 12 p.m. and headed east.
By 1 p.m. PT, jolly old Saint Nicholas was spotted at Georgia and Howe streets, where he headed south toward Davie.
Santa Claus has arrived and I am suddenly reminded that it’s December 1 <a href="https://t.co/G4L3qpkupm">pic.twitter.com/G4L3qpkupm</a>
—@alexemThis year's parade featured more than 40 marching bands, choirs, festive floats and community groups.
The parade supports two charities: the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and the CKNW Kids' Fund. Donations were accepted at the parade.