Santa Claus Parade is coming to town
The big guy in red will make his annual appearance in Barrie on Saturday to the delight of hundreds of families.
The 75th anniversary of the Barrie Santa Claus Parade will feature floats, live entertainment, and new attractions, including Santa’s Fireside Gathering.
The event starts at 5 p.m. with the parade travelling north on Lakeshore Drive from Tiffin Street to Toronto Street and east on Dunlop Street to end at Poyntz Street.
The tree lighting will follow the parade at Meridian Place, with a fireworks show and downtown concert.
Road Closures
The parade will require the closure of several streets along the route.
Lakeshore Drive will be closed in both directions from Tiffin Street to Minet’s Point Drive starting at 1 p.m.
A significant section of Dunlop Street will be closed both ways starting at 6 a.m. until after the tree lighting, around 8:30 p.m.
Simcoe Street from Bayfield Street to Dunlop Street East will be closed in both directions from 4 p.m. until roughly 8:30 p.m., and Mulcaster Street from Dunlop Street East to Collier Street will also be closed starting at 4 p.m.
Santa’s Fireside Gathering
The new feature will take place at Centennial Park with a fire pit, food trucks, and limited bleacher seats.
It’s recommended to bring lawn chairs.
Letters for Santa
Santa’s helpers will collect letters for the big guy along the route, so have those wish lists ready to be delivered to the North Pole.
Free Transit
Complimentary park and ride shuttle service will be available every 15 minutes from Bayfield Mall from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for those wishing to leave the car behind.
The service will drop riders off within walking distance of the parade route.
Riders are asked to arrive at their stop five minutes before the scheduled time. MyRideBarrie.ca tracks shuttles in real time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police
A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
2 Canadians confirmed dead in Poland, as consular officials gather information
Two Canadians have died following an incident in Poland, CTV News has learned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls Donald Trump 'funny guy' in Fox News interview
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called U.S. president-elect Donald Trump a 'funny guy' on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News for his comment that Canada should become the United States's 51st state.
DEVELOPING As police search for suspect, disturbing video surfaces after U.S. health-care CEO gunned down in New York
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.
Toddler fatally shot after his 7-year-old brother finds a gun in the family's truck
A two-year-old boy was fatally shot when his seven-year-old brother found a gun in the glovebox of the family's truck in Southern California, authorities said.
Millions in Cuba remain in dark after nationwide blackout
Cuba said it was generating only enough electricity to cover about 1/6th of peak demand late on Wednesday, hours after its national grid collapsed leaving millions without power.
'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has rebuffed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's offer to give up two hours of scheduled opposition time next Monday to present the awaited fall economic statement as 'utterly absurd.'
Canada Post stores continue to operate during strike — but why?
As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open.
Mattel sued over 'Wicked' dolls with porn website link
Mattel was sued this week by a South Carolina mother for mistakenly putting a link to an adult film site on the packaging for its dolls tied to the movie 'Wicked.'