A festive Christmas season kicks off in Maple Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the 21st rolling of the Santa Claus parade, and the city's Winter Fest in the downtown are
Organizers estimated 5,000 people were in Memorial Peace Park and lining the streets of the parade route for last year's celebrations.
“The holiday season is a special time in Maple Ridge, and I want to thank the event organizers and all our partners for their incredible work in bringing these celebrations to life,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy, who is an elf to rival Will Ferrell, and will be riding the city's float again.
“These events are a great way to wrap up a wonderful year of celebrations for our City’s 150th. I encourage everyone to join in the festivities and create lasting memories with family, friends, and neighbours. If you snap the moment, share the magic with us and enter our photo contest.”
The downtown park will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the festival, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m. This free, family-friendly event features a variety of activities, seasonal crafts, a Christmas market, lots of food to try, seasonal light displays, and a tree-lighting ceremony. The Christmas market is where to shop for unique gifts, handcrafted items, and festive treats from local artisans and businesses.
It is hosted by the Christmas Festival Society, the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association and ACT Arts Centre.
The mayor appreciates their efforts, because making downtown Maple Ridge vibrant is important at this time of year, as the city and its business community promote Christmas shopping locally.
"As we continue to grow, we have a lot of local vendors who have the things people are looking for," said Ruimy. "It's a time when people are spending money, and it's great to keep it local. We have really good businesses that create great products."
The Santa Claus Parade will light up the streets from 6-7:30 p.m., with floats, decorations, and a visit from Santa. Residents are invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the show.
There is no cost for the family event, but donations for Friends in Need Food Bank and the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society are welcome.
