Santa Claus Parade
Our Santa Claus Parade takes place on the last Saturday of November at 1:00 p.m and is a part of our holiday kick-off weekend in Port Hope, happening the day after our Candlelight Festival.
The lively parade attracts bands from across the province, features loads of local talent, costumes and floats from businesses and community groups; it’s a toe-tapping good time for folks of all ages!
2025 Parade Details
- Date: Saturday November 29
- Theme: Deck the Downtown
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Approximate duration: 1hr 15 minutes
Parade route: Ridout Street, Walton Street, Queen Street - finishing at Town Hall.
Road closures will be in place starting at 11:30 p.m. and will reopen approximately 2:30 p.m.
Whether you are looking to join the parade, or watch the parade, Port Hope is the place to be on November 29.


Registration details |
||||||
To participate in the Parade, please review parade guidelines and fill out an application form.
Walking parties, floats, and decorated vehicles all welcome. Registration is open to all local businesses, organizations, and sport groups. Your participation will help create a vibrant and colourful parade experience for all!
|
||||||
Spectator details |
||||||
|
The parade comes to life each year thanks to a generous assortment of community support and sponsors including:
Stay on Santa's Nice List and sponsor the Port Hope Santa Claus Parade
A jolly journey: the parade history in Port Hope
The very first Port Hope Santa Claus Parade took place in 1937. Discover how it has grown and changed into the beloved tradition it is today.
Parade History |
The first Port Hope Santa Claus Parade was held in 1937. For years the parade was organized by the Port Hope Fire Department and continued the tradition at least until the mid-1950s.
In 1971, the parade was taken over by the Olde Tyme Christmas Committee. The Old Tyme Christmas Committee was made up of community members who helped to maintain the Old Tyme Christmas charm in Port Hope for decades. From 2012 to 2023, a volunteer-driven Port Hope Santa Claus Parade Committee was formed to fundraise, recruit participation, coordinate logistics, promote the event, balance the books and manage insurance requirements. They also developed the reverse parade in 2020 during the global covid pandemic, ensuring the tradition continued! Members included: Jennifer Earl, Brit Earl, Jeff Gilmer, Karen O’Hara, Peter Abrams, Ken O'Neil, Barry Adamson, Barrileigh Price, Tammie Staples, Jeannie Maidens. The Parade Committee transition ownership to the Municipality of Port Hope in 2024. Today, many volunteers still support parade coordination in partnership with the Port Hope Events Office. Our annual Santa Claus Parade comes to life through a combination of efforts and partnerships. The Municipality of Port Hope provides both financial and in-kind logistical support to ensure a safe and successful parade each year. The Port Hope Police Service assists with the marshaling all along the parade route, in partnership with Ontario Community Emergency Assistance Program (OCEAP). Postal Workers head up the parade, collecting letters to Santa and making sure all these carefully prepared notes are delivered to the North Pole. Rotary Club of Port Hope lends a hand collecting parade donations along the route to help cover parade expenses, and work like elves, making sure Santa’s sleigh is ready for the parade. The Northumberland Food Bank does a non-perishable food drive along the route. And of course, the parade participants and sponsors who really make the magic happen. Community organizations and businesses create one-of-a-kind parade entries that entertain the thousands of spectators who brave the wintry weather to watch the annual event. |