Its official – downtown Kamloops will be home to a Storybook Village later this year, instead of what would have been the 40th annual Santa Claus Parade.
KCBIA Executive Director Carl DeSantis says he is hoping the month long event which gets underway on Nov. 29 will be a way for people to still enjoy the holiday season despite COVID-19 related restrictions.
“Instead of having floats, we are introducing float like frontages on the businesses so that businesses will be heavily decorated with specific themes,” he said. “For example the 100-block of Victoria Street, we’ve got the majority of our businesses all working together to support the Buddy the Elf theme.”
He says you can expect to see decorations along Victoria Street from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue, depending on how many businesses get on board.
Right now, there are over two dozen businesses and organizations that have already committed to take part – including the Thompson Nicola Regional District, Lansdowne Village, Thompson Rivers University and the BC Wildlife Park – with more expected to join
“If you have participated in a previous parade or if you know somebody who has, you’ve got your float decorations and your lights and they’re all boxed up, loan them to us,” DeSantis said. “We’ll make sure they get up on a window in front of a store so that everybody can continue to enjoy all of the things they did in the past in a different way.”
As for Santa Claus himself, DeSantis said they are still working on the details for a virtual visit at Santa’s Workshop which will be sent up at Tri City Contracting in the 100-block of Victoria Street.
“We don’t have all the details, but there will be an opportunity for kids to communicate with Santa Claus there,” added DeSantis.
For more details on the event go here.