Toronto Santa Claus Parade is back in person kicking off Christmas and holiday celebrations in Toronto this Sunday.
One of the oldest Santa Claus Parades in the country, which began in 1905, will return to the streets this Sunday, November 26th, featuring colourful, larger-than-life floats, magical characters, special performances by some amazing artists, celebrity clowns and Mrs. Claus and Santa.
Contents:
- Parade Route
- Parade Floats
- Road Closures & Parking Restrictions
- TTC Route Diversions
Parade Route:
The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. starting at Christie Pits and Bloor Street West. The new route will proceed east along Bloor Street to Spadina Avenue, then continue south on Spadina Avenue, east on Harbord Street and Hoskin Avenue, then south on Queens Park Crescent and University Avenue, east on Wellington Street, and south again on Yonge Street to Front Street. From there, the Parade will head east on Front Street and finish at the St. Lawrence Market at Jarvis Street.
Before the parade begins, those who line up the parade route can cheer the 5k Holly Jolly Fun Run participants who are ‘dressed silly.’ The run follows the parade route starting from 600 Bloor St W, between Palmerston and Markham St., and begins 45 minutes before the Santa Claus parade time. The run will finish at Maple Leaf Square.
The designated physical disability viewing area is on University Avenue at College Street.
The parade will last approximately 2.5 hours.
Desjardins will be collecting new, unwrapped toys in front of Berczy Park and at Queens Park North, as part of CP24 CHUM Christmas WISH holiday toy Drive.
Toronto’s official tree lighting ceremony, Cavalcade of Lights, will return on November 25th.
Parade Floats:
This year’s Parade will feature 26 beautifully decorated floats, lively bands, spirited marchers, and Celebrity Clowns.
Highlights include a new float starring Mrs. Claus, Santa’s reconstructed float with animated reindeer, and the debut of an all-new Mother Goose float.
The Parade boasts a lineup of fan-favorite floats from sponsors such as McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, Canadian Tire Ltd., Tim Hortons, Hudson’s Bay, LEGO, and more.
Partners include McCann Canada, GO Transit, Toronto Star, and the Government of Ontario, among others.
In addition to floats from businesses and various organizations, you can also watch Celebrity Clowns – corporate executives and famous people dressed in clown costumes and make-up.
Road Closures & Parking Restrictions:
Toronto Police will be closing the parade route to traffic starting at the following times. The road closures will last until approximately 6 p.m.
Estimated road closure times for the parade are as follows:
- Bloor Street West, from Ossington Avenue to Christie Street, at 7 a.m.
- Bloor Street West, from Christie Street to Spadina Road, at 10 a.m.
- Spadina Road, from Bloor Street West to Harbord Street, at 10:30 a.m.
- Harbord Street, from Spadina Road to Queen’s Park Crescent, at 10:30 a.m.
- Queen’s Park Crescent, from Harbord Street to College Street, at 11 a.m.
- University Avenue, from College Street to Dundas Street, at 11 a.m.
- University Avenue, from Dundas Street to Front Street, at 11:15 a.m.
- Wellington Street, from University Avenue to Jarvis Street, at 11:30 a.m.
- Front Street, from Bay Street to Jarvis Street, at 11:45 a.m.
- Front Street, from Jarvis Street to Sherbourne Street, at 11 a.m.
Toronto Police will tow vehicles parked along the parade route starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2023. As per the news release, vehicles will be relocated to a nearby street at no charge to the drivers/owners. Drivers may flag down an officer to find out the location of their vehicle or call 416-808-1400 if they were parked west of Spadina Avenue, 416-808-5100 if they were parked east of Yonge Street, and 416-808-5200 if they were parked in between.
Paid parking is available at designated lots near the route.
TTC Route Diversions:
Santa Claus Parade will cause various route diversions on November 26th. These are:
- 19 bay — 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM
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- 19 Bay will turn back north, via east on Adelaide Street, south on Church Street, west on King Street and north on Bay Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; south of King Street, southbound stops on Bay Street, between Adelaide Street and King Street.
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- 501B — 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM
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- Westbound: from Richmond Street, north on York Street and east on Queen Street. Eastbound: from Queen Street, south on Bay Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; northbound Bay Street, between Richmond Street and Queen Street, Queen Street, west of Bay Street.
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- 501D — 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM
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- Westbound: from Church Street, west on Richmond Street and south on Victoria Street. Eastbound: from Victoria Street, east on Adelaide Street and north on Church Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; southbound Church Street, between Richmond Street and Adelaide Street, Church Street, between Adelaide Street and Wellington Street, Wellington Street, York Street, King Street.
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- 121 Esplanade-River — 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM
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- Westbound: from The Esplanade, north on Lower Sherbourne Street, west on King Street, north on Jarvis Street, east on Adelaide Street. Eastbound: from Adelaide Street, south on Lower Sherbourne Street and east on Front Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; west of Lower Sherbourne Street.
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- 75 Sherbourne — 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM
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- 75 Sherbourne will turn back north, via south on Lower Sherbourne Street, east on Queens Quay, north on Parliament Street and west on Front Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; The Esplanade, Lower Jarvis Street, Queens Quay, between Lower Jarvis Street and Lower Sherbourne Street.
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- 72 Pape — 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM
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- 72 Pape will turn back east, via east on Harbour Street and south on Yonge Street, to regular route.
- Stops not served; Bay Street, north of Harbour Street.
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- 13 Avenue Road — 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
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- 13 Avenue Road will divert to St George Station as follows: Southbound: from Avenue Road, west on Davenport Road and south on Bedford Road, to St George Station.
Northbound: From St George Station, south on Bedford Road, east on Bloor Street and north on Avenue Road, to regular route. - Stops not served; southbound on Avenue Road, south of Davenport Road, Queens Park, south of Bloor Street.
- 13 Avenue Road will divert to St George Station as follows: Southbound: from Avenue Road, west on Davenport Road and south on Bedford Road, to St George Station.
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- 94Ato Castle Frank Station — 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM
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- 94A Wellesley will divert both ways via Ossington Avenue, Dupont Street, Davenport Road, Bay Street.
- Stops not served; Ossington Avenue, between Bloor Street and Harbord Street, Harbord Street/Hoskin Avenue, between Ossington Avenue and Queens Park, Wellesley Street, between Queens Park and Bay Street.
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- 300 Bloor-Danforth Night Bus — 07:00 AM to 8:00 AM
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- 300 Bloor-Danforth will divert both ways, via Ossington Avenue, Harbord Street, Bathurst Street.
- Stops not served; Bloor Street, between Ossington Avenue and Bathurst Street.
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- 126 Christie — 07:00 AM to 2:30 PM
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- 126 Christie will divert to Ossington Station both ways, via Dupont Street and Ossington Avenue.
- Stops not served; Christie Street, between Dupont Street and Bloor Street, Christie Station.
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