Is the 2021 Flamborough Santa Claus Parade cancelled?

The Flamborough Santa Clause Parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row. But, unlike 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is not to blame.

This year, due to road construction on Centre Road, the parade committee decided to hold off hosting the event for another year.

They closed it off just north of Parkside (Drive), so that's the parade route, so there's no route," said Flamborough Santa Claus Parade committee member Stephanie Wilsack.

Centre Road is currently closed from Nisbel Boulevard to 500 metres north to allow for the installation of a permanent culvert, stormwater and sanitary sewers, a new larger water main, and a new four-way intersection to connect North Waterdown Drive with Centre Road as part of the Waterdown bypass project.

According to Wilsack, that the parade committee considered a few things" and, had the road not been closed, the committee would've started to plan a festive event - albeit of a smaller magnitude."

The spread of COVID-19 remains a consideration and many communities have opted not to host parades again this year. However, for the Flamborough group, it was just a logistics thing," said Wilsack.

Despite this year's decision, the organizing committee has every intention to see floats wind their way through the heart of Waterdown to usher in the 2022 festive season.

We have every anticipation that we will be back in full swing next year, for sure," said Wilsack.