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Maple Ridge Christmas Fest still in planning stages

The Christmas Festival Society is looking for volunteers
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Maple Ridge’s Christmas in the Park and Santa Claus Parade has not yet been given the green light by the city. (The News files)

The Maple Ridge Christmas Festival Society is still in the planning stages for 2021.

After asking the community to join them for the annual festival on Dec. 4 this year, the president of the society said they are still in the planning stages and have not actually been given the “final green light “by the city.

Trish Coft said information that was put up on the society’s website was for people to register for floats and for volunteering while they were still planning.

Last year a drive-through parade event had been planned that followed COVID-19 safety guidelines at the time, but was cancelled at the last minute due to a spike in COVID cases across the Fraser Health region.

A description of the festival included: colourful decorations throughout Memorial Peace Park, decorated trees, a Christmas market, light displays, and at 6 p.m., the parade welcoming Santa Claus to town. There is also supposed to be a mailbox for letters to Santa Claus.

Those wishing to be a volunteer are being asked to fill out a volunteer form that can be found at mapleridgechristmasfestival.com/volunteer and email it to mrchristmasfestivalsociety@gmail.com.

The Christmas Festival Society is also putting out the word for any businesses, organizations, or groups that would like to put their creative skills to the test and enter a float in the parade. This year the society is asking for a float entry donation of $50 to cover the costs of increasing traffic control measures, although non-profit groups will continue to be free of charge.

However, donations are not mandatory as the society does not want to impede anyone from participating.

Registration forms can be found at mapleridgechristmasfestival.com/parade and should be emailed to mapleridgechristmasparade@gmail.com.

Anyone wanting to make a donation can send a cheque to: Maple Ridge Christmas Festival Society, Attn: Trish Coft, 11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 6G2.

Businesses interested in becoming either a bronze, silver, gold or platinum sponsor can also email mrchristmasfestivalsociety@gmail.com.

A volunteer orientation meeting will be taking place Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m., and a parade orientation meeting will be taking place at 7:30 p.m. the same day, both locations to be announced at a later date.


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Colleen Flanagan

About the Author: Colleen Flanagan

I got my start with Black Press Media in 2003 as a photojournalist.
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