Hundreds see Santa in Rivers

Details

Published on Thursday, December 11, 2014

By Sheila Runions

      Banner Staff

Temperatures reaching single digits on Saturday, Dec. 6 are credited for filled streets in Rivers during the Santa Claus parade, an annual event sponsored by Rivers and District Chamber of Commerce. More than 20 floats left Rivers Elementary School and passed by the hospital and some senior lodges before reaching the downtown district.

There were emergency vehicles and heavy equipment, carollers and pirates, horses and Santa. When he completed the route, Santa backtracked and returned to Rivers Legion where a hall full of people greeted him. Children (and their guardians) were waiting for the chance to sit on his knee and share wish lists before posing for a picture and collecting a candy bag; more than 80 children received treats.

Riverdale Harvest provided plenty of distraction in the hall with the sale of raffle tickets, hot dogs, drinks and baking. An inflatable snowman trio (prize one) was won by Donna Simard; Irene Ventnor won prize two — a hoodie. The organization has submitted their own report with more details, so watch for it in this edition to find out more information.

The hall cleared out just before noon, allowing some time for shopping and dinner before 50 children and their parents enjoyed the hospitality of Rivers Daly Firefighters. They co-ordinated a free two-hour public skate at Riverdale Community Centre. Plans to show a movie following skating failed because of technical difficulties, but the department still supplied free popcorn to those who stayed.

To start the day, Rivers and Area Lions Club served a pancake breakfast; it has been eight years since breakfast prefaced the parade. That organization cooked pancakes and sausages for 60 people who bought that meal in Rivers Civic Centre.