Santa is greeted by excited youngsters on Saturday morning before making his way into the Atrium Centre for the 15th Annual Here Comes Santa Claus Day. Videre Images by Jason Whiting
The spirit of Christmas throughout the Border City was hard to miss this past Saturday as the 15th Annual Here Comes Santa Claus Day took over the downtown core.
The day kicked off with a pancake breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39 Lloydminster, sponsored by Sobeys and the local Kinsmen, and things really picked up at 11 a.m. when Santa and the Grinch arrived at the Atrium Centre for photos with the kids.
The Grinch is taken into custody by Const. Melanie Flynn of the Lloydminster RCMP. Videre Images by Jason Whiting
A Lloydminster tradition since its inception, Here Comes Santa Claus Day is a day-long free event with fun for the whole family.
“We have some major events going on,” said one of the organizers, Kurt Price.
“We have cookie decorating at Grace United Church, Legacy DIY and Henka Divorce Law and Mediation have acrylic ornaments they’re making over there, and we have Sprinkles the Clown and Mark the Magnificent making balloon animals at 3 p.m. There’s gingerbread houses, a wiener roast going on at Synergy Credit Union, and then we’ve got the fireworks coming up at 5 p.m. They’ve moved over the Lloydminster Exhibition this year instead of being downtown, but we’re anticipating you’ll be able to see them all across the city.”
Over the years, Price has seen the event grow to heights he and other organizers never thought possible, but with the help of the local business community, anything is possible.
“Whether it’s trying to make the pictures with Santa a bit better this year with a new backdrop or adding characters like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer over at Walkin’ on Water Toys, we try to grow it a little bit more each year,” said Price.
“We can’t grow it without sponsorships, and we’ve had some amazing sponsors for the past 15 years such as Servus Credit Union. They’ve sponsored us each and every year and they sponsored the fireworks.”
The community itself also plays a large role in the success of the event, including members of the Lloydminster Fire Department, who once again braved the weather to roast hot dogs for the event’s annual wiener roast.
“We can’t do this, and make it free for everyone, without those sponsors. That’s the biggest thing, this is free for everyone because of those great sponsors,” said Price.
“I also want to thank the amazing volunteers we have as well. We had people phoning us asking if we could use them again this year because they wanted to take part in it and be a part of it. That’s a special thing when people are asking to be a part of it.”
