THUNDER BAY -- Gail Kromm hopes the Christmas spirit comes early to Thunder Bay.
On Tuesday the co-chairwoman of the annual Rotary Christmas parade put out a call to city residents, encouraging them to come up with their best float ideas for the Nov. 15 event.
Use your imagination, Kromm said.
“We just hoping now to build on getting people participating in the parade, having some fun exciting, new floats that all the children that come out to see them will just say, ‘Wow,’ Kromm said.
Building a good float isn’t that tough, she added, though no Santa Claus costumes are allowed, with Jolly Old Saint Nick at the tail end of the parade as always.
“I think anything with a Christmas theme, something that has maybe animals or anything that children would relate to,” she said.
“Anything that is put together well and is decorated, that’s what we’re looking for.”
The annual parade has become a wonderful tradition in its 24 years of existence, said Jodi Phillips, president of the Fort William Rotary Club.
And as always, it’s always about the children.
“What we’re trying to focus on for this year is our floats. We’re looking for floats that are the largest, loudest, most fun with a Christmas theme,” Phillips said.
The parade is a great way for people to forget about the weather.
“We have a very, very long winter. Opportunities for us to come out and celebrate together in the winter season is very important. We get a fabulous turnout of children and their families,” Phillips said.
Parade organizers say it’s free to register a float, which can be done by visiting www.fwrotary.ca or by phoning Kromm at 627-6512.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 15, starting at the Real Canadian Superstore parking lot. It will end at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.