Vancouver Santa Claus Parade cancelled for 4th straight year

The Santa Claus Parade is a holiday staple in just about every city but CityNews has learned the big man in red won’t be coming down Vancouver’s streets for a fourth straight year.

The parade, which in the past has attracted 300,000 people, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19, and in 2022 because it didn’t have a title sponsor.

Event organizer, Pace Group, tells CityNews that continues to be a problem, saying in an email “Unfortunately, there has been no movement on finding a new title sponsor since the parade was put on hiatus last year. So no change, no plans for a parade this year.”

The City of Vancouver also tells CityNews it has “not received a permit application for the 2023 Santa Claus Parade event.”

“Certainly disappointed to hear this news,” Vancouver City Councillor Lisa Dominato told CityNews. “The Santa Claus parade has been well loved and welcomed by residents of our city, of all ages, and it’s a lovely free event for families.”

She’s not the only one who’s disappointed.

“I think for the kids it would be great to have so by that definition I’m sorry it’s cancelled,” one woman told CityNews.

“It’s disappointing as a mom of a toddler,” said another. “I feel like a lot of events are being cancelled in the city, so the Christmas train has been cancelled which is devastating.”

“Normally we don’t go so it hardly matters for me but for kids, it’s maybe fun so they miss the fun,” a man added.

Dominato says the city wants to see more events – not less – and is taking steps to do that, including streamlining the permitting process and launching a special events task force.

“We are working together as a council to make it easier to put on events, to open things up for business, to reduce the red tape,” she said.

For those looking to get into the holiday spirit in the city, Dominato said there’s the PNE Winter Fair, which runs throughout December.

“Hopefully they find a title sponsor for next year,” Dominato added.

Other nearby cities like Surrey and Chilliwack will go ahead with their parades, so some families on the Lower Mainland may travel to catch a glimpse of Saint Nick.