The Winnipeg Santa Parade on November 20, 1976. (GREGG BURNER PHOTO)
The Winnipeg Santa Parade is hoping for a Christmas miracle to replace its original Santa sleigh.
Organizers say Santa’s ride has been deemed unsafe for travel in the 109th annual parade on November 17.
“The current float is more than 60-years-old and is no longer safe to use,” said parade director Monica Derksen.
“With extreme winter temperatures and wear and tear for decades, the old Eaton’s billboards — key to the structural integrity — are damaged beyond repair. The decor is crumbling and the snowmen disintegrating.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in hopes of raising $100,000 to create a new float.
The parade, launched in 1909 by Eaton’s department store, draws more than 3,000 Manitobans to participate and attracts 60,000 people to Winnipeg’s downtown annually.
Derksen says they have created a list of thank-you gifts for supporting the parade and the float project.
“From behind-the-scenes with Santa, to having your name etched on the float for decades to come,” she added. “We have our fingers crossed that we’ll be unveiling our 2018 parade float in November, built to last for decades to come.”
