Newmarket’s streets will be filled with holiday cheer this weekend as two parades make their way through town.
The candlelight parade will begin Friday, Nov. 18 downtown, as locals gather to light up the town’s Christmas tree. That will be followed the next day by Newmarket’s first Santa Claus Parade in three years, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 19.
“Bundle up and gather your friends, family and community to see the festive floats as they cruise through town,” the municipality said of the Santa Claus parade.
The two annual events help usher the holiday season into town. Staff have been putting up decorations throughout the week to give the downtown a holiday feel.
The candlelight parade will feature hundreds marching down Main Street with candles, capped off with carols and the Christmas tree lighting. The event will close Main Street, plus Water Street to Park Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m.
The next day, dozens of floats will drive through Newmarket for the Santa Claus parade. The town has gathered volunteers and community groups to take part, with the parade going from Eagle Street, down to Main Street and finishing off at Davis Drive.
The parade will include street closures Nov. 19 on Cane Parkway (northbound) and Lorne Avenue (northbound) to Eagle Street from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lorne Avenue north of Eagle Street to Avenue Road from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Eagle Street from Helmer Avenue to Water Street, then up to Main Street to Davis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You are encouraged to bring food donations for the Newmarket Food Pantry. You can also bring letters to Santa, with members of Canada Post and parade marshalls collecting the letters to mail out.
Any questions about street closures can be sent to [email protected], or you can call customer service at 905-895-5193.
