Oak Bay’s newest ladder truck made its Christmas festival debut to thousands who gathered on Oak Bay Avenue Sunday to catch a glimpse of Santa and to see the lights.
Dozens of children were perched on their parents’ shoulders, craning to get a better look of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus while they slowly made their way down the street on top of the fire department’s new $2 million 105-feet ladder truck as part the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association’s annual Christmas event.
Longtime event emcee Bill Murphy Dyson joked to the crowd that Santa needed just a bit more help from firefighters to get to the festival following the recent bomb cyclone and atmospheric river events that hit Vancouver Island.
There was no rain on Sunday in Oak Bay, where people played street hockey and kids covered the intersection of Hampshire Road and Oak Bay Avenue with chalk art.
Children also clustered around a pavilion set up around Santa’s mailbox, where they handed in letters filled with Christmas gift wishlists.
Madeline, 7, who said she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up, asked for a sewing kit and a magic ball toy that she had recently seen in a store.
Her mother, Chelsea Madrick, said Madeline has been to every Oak Bay Christmas festival since she was born.
Her husband stayed home with her two other daughters who had decided to stay in, she said.
“My daddy’s a Grinch!” said Madeline, jumping up and down.
At 5 p.m., Oak Bay Business Improvement Association president Martin Cownden and Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch plugged together two ends of an oversized electrical connector and about 10,000 string lights on Oak Bay Avenue came to life.
Seven-month-old Ziah was quickly entranced by the colourful scene.
Isaac Dellabough said while he had never been to the Oak Bay Christmas festival while growing up, it’s likely that he’ll bring his son back for next year.
Event manager Heather Leary said the Christmas festival has shifted to more of a family-oriented event over the years. It was largely attended by seniors when it first began in 2001.
Leary estimated about 4,000 people attended this year despite a windy afternoon.
Cownden, the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association president, said the majority of the event is funded by the businesses that are part of his association and groups such as Oak Bay Tourism and the Oak Bay Marina pitched in this year.
Several stores chose to keep their doors open later than usual to join in the community spirit, he said.
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