St. Marys kicks off the Christmas season this Friday!

Parade and lighting of the WinterLights just the start of the festivities

It will begin to look a lot like Christmas in St. Marys this Friday night, as Santa Claus comes to town via the Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade on Friday night.

Public Works staff will begin closing parking stalls on both sides of Queen Street from Peel to Water at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, which will reopen after the parade. Parking will remain fully available on Water Street, and there will be designed 15-minute food pickup stalls on Wellington Street abutting Queen.

The parade leaves the Pyramid Recreation Centre at 7:00 p.m., and follows its familiar route up James Street, west on Queen Street through the downtown, then south on Water Street to the Canadian Tire parking lot. Santa will then continue to Milt Dunnell Field for the lighting of the WinterLights.

For those unable to watch the parade in person, the Front Porch Show will be live-streaming the event online, with commentary, on its Facebook page. Be sure to “Like” The Front Porch Show page to be able to watch.

The Pyramid Recreation Centre will also host many free, sponsored swimming and skating events during the holiday season. On Sunday, November 17, the River Road Run is sponsoring free swimming from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., while the Downie Optimists are sponsoring free skating from 3:00 to 3:50 p.m. For the full listing of sponsored swimming and skating through to January plus other holiday activities, visit www.townofstmarys.com/celebratetheseason.

Downtown St. Marys becomes a shopping wonderland on Sunday, November 24 as the traditional merchants’ open house offers an afternoon of seasonal spirit, promotions, and shopping from noon to 5:00 p.m. The following Sunday, December 1, is the St. Marys Museum’s annual Christmas open house, with free crafts, entertainment and entry to the museum from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.

The Friendship Centre hosts its annual Christmas dinner on Friday, November 29 at noon. Please buy your tickets in advance for $17 by calling the Centre at 519-284-3272. The Friendship Centre’s Christmas social is Friday, December 20 at 1:30 p.m., featuring the hilarious Lip Sync battle; please register your group in advance.

All adults are welcome to be part of a rustic sign-making workshop at the Pyramid Recreation Centre on Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. The workshop, materials included, costs $60 per person (Friendship Centre members save $5); please register by November 20 by calling 519-284-3272 to ensure your spot!

The Giving Tuesday initiative is now in its third year and growing. On Tuesday, December 3 many stores, services and groups will participate in this global movement of doing good and giving back. Visit www.givingtuesday.ca/partners/givingtuesdaystmarys or follow “St. Marys Giving Tuesday” on Facebook for more information.

As Christmas and New Year’s Eve approach, look for more information on the popular horse-drawn wagon rides at Milt Dunnell Field and the Pyramid Recreation Centre’s family New Year’s Eve Party on Tuesday, December 31!

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Contact

Andrea Macko | Events Coordinator
519-284-2340, ext. 249 | amacko@town.stmarys.on.ca