As dozens of merchants got ready to take part in an evening of pre-Christmas Moonlight Madness sales Friday night, hundreds of Elliot Lakers lined a downtown route to take in the city's 2019 Santa Claus parade.
Floats included the Elliot Lake Fire Department, Elliot Lake Emergency Services, City of Elliot Lake Mayor Dan Marchisella and City Council (antique fire truck) and MP Carol Hughes.
Participants in the clubs and organizations category included the ATV club, Ecole George Vanier School, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Elliot Lake Family Health Team, Elliot Lake Guiding Unit, Elliot Lake Lions Club, Elliot Lake Retirement Living, Community Living / Christian Horizons, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), KMAC Elliot Lake, Villa Francaise des Jeunes High School (VFJ), Elliot Lake Skating Club and Elliot Lake Snowbirds Snowmobile Club.
In the business category were Bowes and Clothes, Studio Dance Art, Harrison Electric, Canada Post, Royal Bank, Algoma Chrysler, Hampton Inn, Tim Horton's, Esso on the Run, TD Bank, Rice Commercial Cleaning, Timberock Inc., Hi-Rail Leasing, Miss Kate's Dance Studio, Pet Value and Tex in the Trees.
The parade route started in the Scotiabank Plaza and the procession of floats and marchers wound from there along Ontario Avenue to Hillside to Collins Hall where Santa Claus went inside to entertain, snacks were provided and Mayor Marchisella announced winners of the top parade participants competition as chosen by a panel of judges. The temperature along the parade route was minus 6 Celcius.
The overall winner as selected by a panel of judges was Elliot Lake Retirement Living
In the walkers' group, the best presentation was the Elliot Lake Guiding unit. Runner up was Studio Dance Arts.
In the clubs and organizations group, the winner was Villa Francais des Jeunes High School (VFJ). The runner up.was Elliot Lake Family Health Team.
In the Business category, the winning entry was Tex in the Trees and the runner award went to Hi-Rail Leasing.