First big snow hits big parade (37 photos)

It was the first significant snowfall of the season and it had to happen right at the same time as the Rotary Santa Claus Parade.

Environment Canada reported temperatures of -5 Celsius and 2 cm of fallen snow and anyone who stepped outside this evening could tell you it was pretty wet snow at that.

Rotary’s parade marshal David K. Marshall estimates around 10,000 people, perhaps less, attended the event that usually draws, he estimates, crowds of around 15,000.

“There was lots of snow and it was cold and damp so we had a little less of a crowd than normal,” said Marshall. “(However) we’re very pleased with the amount of parade entries this year. We had 60 entries which is perhaps one of the largest parades we’ve had.”

The parade entry prize winners were as follows:

Norm Candelori Best in Parade: Searchmont Ski Runners
Best Corporate Entry: S&T Group
Best Community Group Entry: Algoma Country Scouts Canada
Best High School Spirit Award: Korah Collegiate & Vocational School
Best Elementary School Spirit Award: Grand View Public School

“Rotary Club appreciates the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie and all the support that they give us to help us with our cause of helping disadvantaged children. There’s no charge for anyone for this parade. We just like to have it for the community and kids, to say thanks,” said Marshall.

Marshall said he's been the Rotary parade marshal since the mid 80s and for Santa Claus Parade since the 90s, when Rotary started hosting it

Santa Claus even had a message for the kids this year.

“To all the little boys and girls I’m so happy to see them here in Sault Ste. Marie and Santa will be back in a very short while. All of you little boys and girls have been very good this year and Santa is going to do his best to give you all your wishes,” said Santa.

Santa was pressed for a figure on his real age but he would only said, “I’m as old as my tongue and older than my teeth.”

The parade started at 6 p.m. in front of the Bushplane museum and then proceeded down Queen Street.

The theme this year was ‘Merry Christmas.’