The Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade is officially set for Saturday, November 14th, 2015 at 11:00 am. The Parade is one of the largest free events in Niagara, with over 12,000 people attending last year’s parade alone. It will begin on Victoria Avenue at Armoury Street and continue to Queen Street, ending at Erie Avenue. Here is a map of the parade route courtesy of www.niagarafalls.ca:
*Click to enlarge*
Time is flying, and the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade will soon be underway. It’s sure to be a great family fun event to enjoy with your kids, but like any other big function, holiday or extravaganza, there is always added stress leading up to that point. If you have kids, you will agree with this statement. Will we get there in time? Will we find parking? Should I take a stroller in and out of large crowds? Here are a few tips to help you relax and enjoy every moment of the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade.
Directions:
From Toronto
- Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to Niagara Falls, Canada.
- Take Thorold Stone Road (east) which turns into Stanley Avenue
- Turn left (east) on Bridge Street
- Right onto Victoria Avenue
- Left onto Park Street
From Rainbow Bridge
- Follow Roberts St. (Hwy 420) to Stanley Avenue
- Turn right (north) onto Stanley Avenue
- Right onto Bridge Street
- Right onto Victoria Avenue
- Left onto Park Street
From the Peace Bridge
- Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to Niagara Falls, Canada
- Turn left (north) onto Stanley Avenue
- Right onto Bridge Street
- Right onto Victoria Avenue
- Left onto Park Street
From the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge
- Follow Hwy 405 to Niagara Falls, Canada.
- Take the Stanley Ave. exit
- Turn right and follow to Thorold Stone Rd.
- Turn left onto Thorold Stone Rd, which turns into Stanley Ave.
- Turn left on Bridge Street
- Then turn right onto Victoria Ave. (south)
- From Victoria Avenue, turn left onto Park Street.
Tip#1: Leave Early
This one goes without saying. First of all, the parade falls on a Saturday. Saturday is always the busiest day in Niagara Falls. There will be road closures depending on which route you plan on taking, so be prepared for that (see map above). The formation of the floats and other parade preparations will begin at 9:00 am on Jepson and Armoury Street, so expect those roads to be closed at approximately 7:00 am. Also, if you plan on bringing a stroller, wagon or wheelchair, it’s best to get a spot situated early along the parade route to avoid struggling your way through a large crowd. Try to establish yourself close to an available washroom as well — think restaurants, port-a-potties, coffee shops, etc.
For a list of available parking lots during the Niagara Falls Santa Claus parade click here.
Tip#2: Dress For the Weather
*Pictured Above: Clothing for sale at the Canada Trading Company — 4950 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, ON.*
We all know that you can never rely fully on the weather and it can quickly turn around, so it’s best to be prepared. Dress warmly and make sure your children have their hats, gloves and warm Winter jackets handy. Bring blankets and don’t forget the weather protector for the stroller and bring umbrellas…just in case. Comfortable shoes are a must! If you forget any of these items, or have yet to purchase them, the Canada Trading Company on Clifton Hill has all the above items (and much more) just in, with many more items on their way just in time for the Niagara Falls Santa Claus parade.
Tip#3: Make Lunch Reservations!
Guaranteed, you will be starving after the parade, and if you won’t be, your kids will. And everyone will have the same idea. Either make reservations at nearby restaurants ahead of time, or be prepared for everyone trying to tumble into the same place at the same time. To avoid possibly being turned away, check out and research restaurants close to the parade route or within a few minutes away.
View a restaurant list of Queen Street restaurants and cafes by clicking here, or consider heading towards Clifton Hill and try the restaurants around the tourism district. They will be less busy and will be closer to Niagara Falls attractions and the festival if you wish to make a full afternoon of family fun. Boston Pizza Clifton Hill is a great choice for the whole family as it is a very large and accommodating Boston Pizza that also houses a massive arcade, the Great Canadian Midway, as well as Strike! Rock N Bowl — Niagara’s 25,000 square foot entertainment facility.
Tip#4: Bring Your Letters to Santa!
We all know Santa will be the grand finale to the parade, so why not get your kids super excited and have their wish list ready ahead of time? Remember, Santa’s address is:
Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO, Canada.
They will get all jazzed up seeing Santa and experiencing the whole “Miracle of Christmas”…and they can even deliver them to him personally after the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade. There is a meet and greet with Santa outside City Hall afterwards from 12:45 pm to 2:30 pm in front of City Hall (4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls).
**If you can’t make it out for the 2015 Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade, click here for a full list of ALL the Niagara Region upcoming Santa Claus Parades.**
For more information on the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade, please visit www.niagarafalls.ca.
Christine Lynn
clynn@cliftonhill.com
www.cliftonhill.com
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