It’s already beginning to feel a lot like Christmas as downtown Kamloops prepares for two big events this week — the lighting of a huge Christmas tree and the running of the 32nd annual Santa Claus Parade.
On Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m., downtown merchants collectively host the Lights in the Night Christmas Party featuring hayrides, carol singing, entertainment, crafts and more.
A highlight of the evening will be the 6 p.m. light-up of the huge Christmas tree at St. Andrews on the Square.
On Saturday, it’s the Santa Claus Parade, which unofficially gets underway at 10:30 a.m. with the rousing of Santa from his slumber in the parking lot of Kamloops Square at 275 Seymour St.
It has become a Kamloops tradition to gather around Santa’s sleigh and noisily cheer him awake so he can get into the parade lineup.
The parade itself starts at 11 a.m. and travels down Victoria Street from Second Avenue to Sixth Avenue.
