There was music, lights and festive cheer to go around on Saturday night at the 41st Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade.
An estimated 60,000 showed up in person to watch this year’s parade, which saw about 60 entries and 1,700 parade participants walk, ride, and dance their way through the streets of downtown Victoria.
The parade kicked off in front of the legislature at 5:20 p.m., but crowds began lining the streets long before the sun began to set.
Costumed children ran excitedly into Douglas Street, which was cleared of cars in anticipation of the sounds and sights to come.
The atmosphere was infectious, with one passerby bursting out in song when the Naden Band finally rounded the corner playing Christmas carols.
Later, the crowd — five people deep in some spots — joined Santa Claus in a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Logan Besler, 13, had only ever seen the Christmas parade on television before.
But on Saturday night, he was out popping wheelies with his younger brother Noah, 10, as part of the Victoria BMX’s parade contingent that brought dozens of young cyclists into the streets.
The four Grinches sprinkled throughout this year’s Santa Light Parade — two spotted with the capital region’s female minor hockey association parade float, one inside a Colwood municipal truck, and another one mock wrestling with prisoners inside a cage float towed by B.C. Sheriff Services car — were not enough to dampen the holiday cheer of those who came out to see the parade.
Kelly Kurta, executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society, which puts on the show, said that it’s always a good turnout regardless of the weather.
“Last year, when it was pouring with rain … we had record crowds,” she said, adding: “We are kicking off Christmas on the West Coast in the [provincial] capital.”
Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson agreed.
“It’s a great way to start the Christmas season,” said Goodmanson, adding his family tries to go to every Christmas event in the capital region.
Goodmanson joined the Langford trolley procession with four other Langford councillors this year, but has been a parade participant with various groups for well over a decade.
It’s a family affair: His daughter was also in the parade as part of the O’Brien’s Irish Dance group.
The festivities drew people from farther away. Betty McGonigle, who is from the Cowichan Valley, was sitting on Belleville Street with five others wearing matching flashing Santa caps.
The close friends have been visiting Victoria to experience the Christmas cheer for the past 34 years.
“We just come down to enjoy ourselves, no children, no husband, just a night out with the girls,” she said.
“We used to have children when we started, now we have grandchildren and [are] talking about great-grandkids.”
