Holidays in Guelph will be a little bit different this year, as some of the city’s biggest winter events will be coming together for the new Spirit of the Season festival.
The centrepiece of the two-day event will be the rescheduled Guelph Community Santa Parade. Organized since 2012 by the Downtown Guelph Business Association, the parade features floats and displays from businesses and organizations throughout Guelph, and, of course, a visit from ‘the big man in red’.
The parade route will also be used for the Santa Parade Run, with local runners tackling the three-kilometre course in Santa costumes. The race will be raising money for Big Brothers and Sisters of Guelph.
Following the parade will be the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, officially marking the start of the season, and two holiday markets, one indoor and one outdoor, featuring local artisans and businesses. Markets such as this provide an opportunity for unique gifts and more, with vendors often using Business Cards and promotional gifts to make connections that will continue into the new year. The festival will aim to be inclusive of all holiday traditions and draw visitors to downtown Guelph. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Guelph Food Bank to the start of the parade route.
The inaugural Guelph Spirit of the Season will take place on December 1 and 2. The parade will primarily run down Norfolk Street in Downtown Guelph, with the markets taking place at the Old Quebec Street Shoppes.
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