About the parade
Six decades of volunteers, one night a year.
Welcome to the Greater Sudbury Santa Claus Parade
Our parade has been a cornerstone of holiday festivities in Sudbury for decades, steeped in the rich traditions of our community. From its humble beginnings to the grand spectacle it is today, it has become a tradition that unites generations.
Our commitment to spreading holiday cheer extends beyond the parade itself. We aim to be a straightforward, complete resource for parade updates, forms, news and results — whether you are a participant, a sponsor or a spectator.
Before the parade steps off, be sure to watch the sky come alive with fireworks, setting the stage for a genuinely enchanting Sudbury evening.
The parade would not be possible without the support of local businesses, our sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers. Their enthusiasm is what turned a small procession into something the whole city turns out for.
So mark your calendars, gather your loved ones, and join us for an unforgettable journey through the streets of Greater Sudbury. From all of us on the parade committee, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a season filled with joy, laughter and cherished memories.
Sincerely,
Your Sudbury Santa Claus Parade Committee
How the parade grew
It began as a short daytime procession put on by local service clubs. It is now the largest single night downtown Sudbury has all year.
The 1960s
A few floats and a marching band
Local service clubs put on a short daytime procession through a much smaller downtown. Santa came last, as he still does.
Since then
It became a night parade
Moving to the dark is what turned a procession into a spectacle. Every entry now arrives lit — lights on, music playing, decorations everywhere — and the parade is judged on how well it does that.
Every November
Fireworks first
The night opens with fireworks over downtown before the parade steps off, which is why people arrive an hour early and stay warm on the sidewalk rather than showing up at 5:29 p.m.
Every year
The Children’s Choice
The award voted by the children watching rather than by the judges. It has never once gone to the most expensive float, and it is the one every captain actually wants.
2025
Sixty-eight entries
The biggest parade the committee has run — 68 entries, around 60 marshals walking the route, and seven downtown streets closed for the evening.
2026
A Very Merry Sudbury Christmas
Saturday, November 21. Fireworks around 5:15 p.m., parade steps off at 5:30 p.m., and registration is open now.
Were you at an earlier parade?
Sixty years of this have happened in front of family cameras. If you have photographs, cine film or camcorder tapes of a parade gone by, we would love to put them on this page. We digitize them at our cost, credit you, and give the originals straight back.