By rdnewsNOW Staff

Nov. 19, 2021

Santa Claus Parade and Light Up Ponoka festivities planned

Nov 8, 2021 | 3:00 PM

The Town of Ponoka and the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce are once again joining forces to kick off the holiday season in downtown Ponoka on Friday, Nov. 19 in conjunction with the Chamber’s annual Almost Midnight Madness event and the Town’s Light Up Ponoka festivities.

Town officials say the fun will begin with the annual Santa Claus parade, which is organized by the Chamber of Commerce, rolling through the downtown at 5 p.m.

The Santa Claus parade will feature colourful, holiday-themed floats festively decorated by local businesses and community groups. The parade will wind through downtown Ponoka along the following route beginning at the Ponoka Arena Complex:

• north along 54 Street;
• east down 46 Avenue;
• north on 50 Street;
• west on 51 Avenue;
• south on 51 Street;
• west on 48 Avenue; and
• and south on 54 Street back to the Arena.
  

‘No Parking’ signs will be placed on streets along the parade route and roadblocks will be erected just before 5 p.m. The roadblocks and ‘No Parking’ signs will be removed once the parade ends. To see a map of the parade route, please go to www.ponoka.ca.

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The Santa Claus parade will be followed immediately by the Town of Ponoka’s annual ‘Light Up Ponoka’ Christmas tree lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Downtown Skating Plaza at 5110-48 Avenue. Work will begin on construction of the Downtown Skating Plaza in the coming weeks. The ice will be added at a later date once weather permits.

The Town’s annual Light Up Ponoka festivities will also once again include Christmas decorations and lights throughout the downtown.

Work is also about to begin on the Town’s annual Christmas light display at Lions Centennial Park, which Town officials expect to be even bigger and brighter this year. The Christmas light display will expand further toward the south end of Centennial Park this year and is expected to be completed by early December. The Centennial Park light display will showcase a combination of new and existing lights that have been donated over the years.

“Our hope is that the Town’s expanding Christmas light displays will delight and entertain families throughout the holiday season,” said Andrew Jones, Manager of Parks and Recreation at the Town of Ponoka.

The evening will wrap up on Nov. 19 with a fireworks display sponsored by the Town of Ponoka and Ponoka County. The fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. over the Battle River Valley. Citizens will be able to view the fireworks from the downtown area or near the parking lot at the baseball diamonds at 46 Street and 43 Avenue.

Throughout the evening, local businesses will be offering Almost Midnight Madness deals in celebration of the holiday season. For more information about the Midnight Madness event and the Chamber’s annual Passport to Christmas program, visit the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce website at www.ponokalive.ca/Default.aspx.

The Ponoka Community Market will also be open for business from 3 – 9 p.m. on Nov. 19 beside the Downtown Skating Plaza in the old library building at 5110-48 Avenue.

During the outdoor and indoor festivities, citizens are reminded to please follow provincial health requirements and guidelines. This includes physically distancing from those in other households, staying home if you are feeling unwell or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and wearing a mask when entering an indoor public space or business.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, please visit www.alberta.ca/COVID19.