By Jim Bloch
The 16th annual St. Clair Lighted Santa Parade and Tree Lighting will kick off the holiday season in the Blue Water Area tonight, Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. The floats, the fire department, St. Clair High School Marching Saints, and phalanx of marching service clubs will assemble at near the intersection of Sixth and Vine streets.
The parade will proceed east on Vine, turn south on North Riverside Avenue and march the length of Riverview Plaza to Jay Street, with the St. Clair River and the boardwalk as a backdrop.
Following the parade, the city will light its 40-foot tree in Palmer Park. Simultaneously, the lights entwined with the garland along the railing of the boardwalk will pop on. Hot chocolate and visits with Santa will follow in the courtyard of the plaza, which is decorated for the season.
The title sponsor of the parade is the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.
“We’ve gotten really organized this year, thanks to the group that was formed for the police department,” Sue Daniels, who chairs the annual parade, said on the Nov. 9 edition of the Focus Show with Paul Dingeman on CTV-Channel 6. “They are really active with us now. So, we’re going to be really organized at the start. That’s always a battle station to get everybody lined up. It’s going to work really well.”
“You’ve been communicating with Santa?” asked Dingeman.
“I have been, yes, and he’s ready to make his trip down here to see all the children,” said Daniels. “They will be able to speak to him after the parade at a meet-and-greet over at the mall.”
“Just like the rock star that he is,” said Dingeman.
“We also have our live reindeer coming from Fowlerville,” said Daniels.
“Where will they be located?”
“At the central courtyard,” said Daniels.
With those antlers, kids shouldn’t pet the animals, Daniels said. “But it’s a chance to see live reindeer.”
The event attracted more sponsors and donors than usual this year, and the parade committee raised over $3,000. Expect as many as 40 units in the procession, by far the longest of the city’s four annual parades.
“It seems like the people are really into it,” she said. “And the freighters like it.”
“I understand you have a new host working with Santa,” said Dingeman.
“It’s going to be the Conductor from the Polar Express,” said Daniels. “He’s going to be here and introduce Santa.”
“You had to make some major arrangements to get that done,” said Dingeman.
“I certainly did,” said Daniels.
The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a relatively mild temperature of 43 degrees at 6 p.m.
“It should be a good evening.” Daniels said.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
