Those two great pillars of Penticton's downtown Christmas celebration – the Santa Parade and the "Light Up" ceremony – have had an interesting time of it in the past few years.
Way back in 2019, the Light Up focused on Nanaimo Square and was quite the production, with lots of compelling stuff like caroling and dance performances. A bunch of nearby shops were open too. It was a solid night with a pretty good crowd.
A few nights later the Santa Parade was big and beautiful though beaten down by one of the most torrential downpours in recent history.
Then along came COVID, wiping out virtually every public gathering for the next two years.
For the 2022 post-pandemic comeback, the Light Up was shuffled down the street to Gyro Park, where there were obvious teething pains. Like, when exactly was that darned tree going to light up?
As for the parade a few nights later, well, it was great to have it back after that rainstorm and two COVID cancelations. But it was short. Real short.
So what's up for 2023? To start with, another big alteration. For the first time ever, the Santa Parade and the Light Up will unfold on the same day – one following directly after the other - on Dec. 3.
But that's not all. The City, and event partner the Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association, recognize not only the brevity of the 2022 parade but also the first-timer kinks of the 2022 Light Up. And they're out to turn those frowns upside down.
And if our conversation with City of Penticton sport and event coordinator Jeff Plant is any indication, the 2023 versions of both will be the start of a whole new ball game.
"We're very aware of that (shortened parade)," Plant told PentictonNow. "Some of that had to do with the number of entries and some of it with the (fast) pace it went down the road.
"But we have plans to manage that. And right now, registration is looking fantastic. I'm now looking at more than 40 vehicles. And it's a mix of things. We have everything from commercial entries to full-blown floats. There's a huge rock truck from (excavation biz) TwinCon and I think PACA will be there with a pack of bikes. There'll be some dance troupes too and much more.
"I'm really excited about the parade."
Plant's just as enthusiastic about the new-for-2023 unification of parade and Light Up.
The former begins at 4:30 pm at Main Street and White Avenue, then flows north along Main to Lakeshore Drive.
The latter kicks off not long after the parade does with live music, a mini vendor market, food trucks, a heated tent, and more, and is in full swing by the time the parade begins to arrive.
At 6 pm the illumination will occur, and Santa himself will pull the switch.
"So this year," said Plant, "we're encouraging parade spectators to follow the parade down to Gyro Park for the Light Up. We have a whole bunch of exciting new lights going into the park, and Santa will throw the switch for the Light Up at 6 then hang around after with giveaways and that sort of thing."
DPBIA executive Brett Turner was equally upbeat.
"The Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association is thrilled to be partnering with the City of Penticton by bringing the Santa Parade and Light Up together as one event," he said. "From Santa arriving by sleigh to an extensive light display and even a heated indoor marketplace, guests are in for a joyous evening."
A free Park & Ride shuttle service through BC Transit between Cherry Lane Shopping Centre and the event site will activate for the event. It'll operate on a continuous loop every half-hour. More details will be posted closer to the date.
For more on the Magic on Main Street, go here.
