Oakville's 78th annual Santa Claus Parade steps off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Lakeshore Road East and Reynolds Street downtown. Families heading to watch will need to plan around nine closed streets and two bus detours, and anyone taking the Santa Shuttle from Oakville GO has to board by 9:15 a.m. to see the whole thing.
From the start, the procession winds through downtown and on toward Kerr Village, ending near Trafalgar Park Community Centre. It's expected to wrap up around 10:30 a.m., and it goes ahead rain or shine. This year's theme is North Pole Sweets and Treats, and the presenting sponsor is 407 ETR, the company that runs the Highway 407 toll road.
The easiest way in skips downtown parking altogether. Oakville Transit's Santa Shuttle runs from Oakville GO Station straight to Trafalgar Park Community Centre at the end of the route. Shuttles run every five to 10 minutes from 8 to 11:30 a.m., travelling directly along Dorval Drive with no stops in between.
Pick-up and drop-off is along the station driveway near the Cross Avenue entrance. Drivers are asked to leave their cars in the Main Lot, reached from the VIA Rail entrance on Cross Avenue. Whether you ride the shuttle or park downtown, the Town suggests arriving between 8 and 8:45 a.m. to find parking and a good viewing spot.
The 9:15 a.m. departure is the last one that gets riders there in time for the full parade; later buses will miss part of it. Return trips back to Oakville GO run until 11:30 a.m. Don't plan to park at Trafalgar Park Community Centre itself: its parking lot is closed from 6 a.m. to noon so the shuttles can use it.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Bus routes 1 and 14/14A on detour | 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Road closures | 6 a.m. to noon |
| Trafalgar Park Community Centre parking lot closed | 6 a.m. to noon |
| Suggested arrival | 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. |
| Santa Shuttles run | 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
| Parade starts | 9 a.m. |
| Last shuttle from Oakville GO for the full parade | 9:15 a.m. |
| Parade expected to finish | around 10:30 a.m. |
| Last return shuttle to Oakville GO | 11:30 a.m. |
The Town's road closures run from 6 a.m. to noon and cover Lakeshore Road East through downtown, Kerr Street and a cluster of side streets around the route.
| Street | Between |
|---|---|
| Lakeshore Road East | Allan Street and Brant Street |
| Kerr Street | Lakeshore Road and Elmwood Road |
| Stewart Street | Kerr Street and Maurice Drive |
| Felan Avenue | Stewart Street and Rebecca Street |
| Deane Avenue | Maurice Drive and Kerr Street |
| Rebecca Street | Dorval Drive and Forsythe Street |
| Navy Street | Robinson Street and Church Street |
| Robinson Street | Navy Street and Allan Street |
| Reynolds Avenue | Robinson Street and Church Street |
Regular bus riders should check their stop. Route 1 and Route 14/14A are detoured from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Route 14/14A will skip stops on Reynolds Street, Church Street, Lakeshore Road West and Cornwall Road, while Route 1 will skip stops on Kerr Street, Speers Road, Rebecca Street, Bond Street and Chisholm Street.
The tradition dates to 1948, when Bill Hughes, then president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, organized the first one to draw shoppers to downtown businesses. Today the Town runs it with a volunteer committee and the local business community.
