Santa Claus still coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town, but the annual Christmas parade in the Town of Amherst will be very different from past ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of the floats passing by people sitting on or standing next to the curb, the parade will be a stationary one. The floats will be parked on one side of Tantramar Crescent and folks will drive by in their own vehicles to view them.
“The community well-being team has worked with the Y’s Men club, the Amherst Police Department and Amherst Fire Department to develop a viable plan
for the Christmas parade,” Cheryl Laliberté, the town’s well-being manager, said.
“While it will be different than past years because of the pandemic, we believe this event will be a fun way to kick off the holiday season.”
Tantramar Crescent will be closed to traffic at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in order to line up the floats. When it opens to viewers at 5 p.m., it will become a one-way street, with vehicles entering from Tupper Boulevard and exiting onto Industrial Park Drive. The parade will end at 9 p.m.
For safety reasons, no one will be allowed to walk the route. However, the Cumberland County Transportation Services will provide free transportation for those who do not have access to a vehicle.
Members of the Amherst Police Department and Y’s Men club will be directing traffic.
The theme of this year’s parade is a Nova Scotian Christmas.
As in past years, prizes will be offered for best overall theme, best large commercial float, best small commercial float, best charity or non-profit float, best youth involvement and Dayle’s Holiday Spirit Award.
Unlike past years, the number of people who can be on a float will be limited to four and they must remain six feet apart at all times. This is being done to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 public health orders.
Those wishing to participate in the parade can get an application at Amherst town hall or Vogue Optical, 4 Robert Angus Dr. To get a digital application, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to the town’s website at https://amherst.ca/submit-a-request-form.html.
Anyone with questions can contact parade organizer Charlie Seymour at 902-667-4670 or the Amherst Recreation Department at 902-667-3352.
Parade Route
