The RCMP led the charge as the Assiniboia Santa Light Parade journeyed down Centre Street at 6:50 p.m. on December 4. Assiniboia’s 2019 Christmas march had commenced near the Civic Centre Arena before arriving in town about 20 minutes later.
Chamber member Linda Hall had been organizing parades in Assiniboia for the last 15 years. She was thrilled to see how the Santa Light Parade had grown. General comments about the parade were said to be very positive. A representative from the Chamber of Commerce also said Hall was proud to be an Assiniboian, because the successful parade had showcased Assiniboia’s community spirit on a cold December evening.
Before the Santa Light Parade careened down Centre Street, people were waiting in their vehicles as the bitter winds blew into town. Although the temperature averaged -7 Celsius, the winds were strengthening.
The evening proved to be a great boon for retailers, who noted a considerable number of visitors from communities outside of Assiniboia on Wednesday night, proving the Santa Light Parade is admired in south central Saskatchewan.
“I can see it now,” a child on street shouted, as he heard sirens and saw swirling lights on Centre Street. “You better get down.,” the child warned his sibling. “They’re coming.”
Soon, Centre Street was filled with trucks, tractors, construction equipment and floats glimmering with colours and lights. Marchers of all ages were interspersed in the convoy. Some marchers handed candy out to the children lining both sides of the street. Earlier, the Chamber of Commerce reminded people not to throw candy, but to hand out their goodies to children for safety reasons.
The parade was filled with interesting spectacles, including Black Peter, a mythical character originating from the Netherlands, said to be a Spanish Moor by the Amsterdam children’s writer Jan Schenkma in 1850. “I ran out of coal,” he said and gave pennies instead. Black Peter, or Zwarte Piet, is the companion of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of the Low Countries. Santa and Mrs. Claus also attended the parade along with costumed bears and bipedal lizards.
Wilcock Mobile Service played the best Christmas song of the evening, with Elvis’ rendition of Blue Christmas echoing throughout the town from the loudspeakers on their vehicle. The Apostolic Church handed out the most practical-minded sugary item on Wednesday, when they gave packets of hot chocolate for the frozen parade watchers on Centre Street.
