Life at Cloverhill

Christmas Holidays Toronto

Toronto Santa Claus Parade

Santa Claus Float, 1978

Today the Toronto Santa Claus Parade will be coming through town for its 105th anniversary. It is the oldest and largest Santa Claus parade in the world, and is held every year in November. The parade starts at Bloor and Christie, goes around Queen’s Park, and makes its way down to the end at Front and Church.

I remember going as a kid with my parents and just being mesmerized by the whole thing. When I was really little, my poor father would hold me on his shoulders for the entire parade to see the floats.

Santa Claus Float at Eaton’s Department Store, 1918

The history of the parade itself is incredible. It all started in 1905, when Mr. and Mrs.Timothy Eaton met Santa at the train, and walked him downtown to the Eaton’s Department store on Yonge Street. In this photo you can see that Santa’s float would stop in front of the store, and he would then climb a ladder up to the second story. Just look at all the thousands of people waiting for him! There are people as far as the eye can see, just packed in trying to catch a glimpse.

In 1913, Eaton arranged for real reindeer to be brought in from Labrador to pull Santa’s sleigh. They had a special veterinarian take care of them leading up to the parade, and then afterwards they retired to a property outside of Toronto.
Children waiting for Santa, 1913

Children were able to run along the route and give their letters to Santa. Every letter was sent a personal response back from Santa.

 Santa Claus Float, 1974

It wasn’t until 1908 that the first float was introduced, and now the parade has 24 floats, 24 bands, and 1700 participants. The parade is broadcast all over the world and watched by millions.
In 1917, the Mother Goose float joined the parade, and has since become a long-running tradition. Just look at how little it has changed between 1960 and 2008.
Santa Claus Float, 1930

During the Great Depression, CFRB radio started broadcasting stories of Santa’s journey from the North Pole to Toronto in the month leading up to the parade. By the time the parade rolled through town, adults and children alike couldn’t wait to see the big guy roll into town. My Great Aunt Marian tells of being a little girl in the 1930s and coming down from way up in the country just to see the parade.

The floats are always incredible. It takes months to put them together, and the teams get started on next year’s floats before the clowns have even washed off their makeup. I love this penguin band playing in this 2008 float, and all the little ones dressed up as penguins too sitting on the sides.

Take a look at some of the great floats that have been created over the years:

Santa’s Workshop, 2008

Frosty the Snowman, 1960
Jack and the Beanstalk, 1960
Teddy Bear Picnic, 2008
Storybook, 1960
Horse-drawn Carriage, 1960 
Santa arriving on a giant fish and climbing up a ladder to Eaton’s, 1919
Santa and his reindeer flying over candy coloured houses, 1969
Cat in the Hat, 1963
If you are looking for something to do today, I would highly recommend getting out to see the Toronto Santa Claus Parade! Its supposed to be 15°C this afternoon, and hopefully as sunny as it was yesterday, so get outside before winter gets here!
Photos from the Archives of Ontario.


Comments

  1. When I was a little girl we would get up very early and when we got to Toronto the streets would be packed for miles with children so excited they could hardly bear it. Then afterwards we would go see the holiday windows on Young Street. It was so magical.