Thousands of people packed Memorial Peace Park before lining the streets of downtown Maple Ridge for the 22nd annual Christmas in the Park and Santa Claus parade Saturday evening.
Christmas in the Park featured Christmas cookie decorating, and photos with the Grinch, for those who were not intimidated by his Grinchy behaviour.
The Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association had a special Christmas market set up featuring local artisans.
And, the 1st Haney Scout Group were handing out free hot chocolate and apple cider, including, Karter and Noah, both 14, Gavin, 13, and Cameron, 11.
Sandy Donaldson, troop Scouter with the group, who has been helping out for the past five years, explained it’s a chance for the scouts to give back to the community.
“We try to give back to the community that does so much for our group, supporting all our fundraisers, such as the Christmas tree fundraiser we have going on at 216th and Lougheed. We do apple days in October with the younger groups and the community has always been so good to us so this is our way of saying thank you,” she explained, adding, her favourite part is when people realize there is no charge for the drinks.
Tiffany Stroud, with Sea Star Faces, was painting children’s faces in festive designs.
And Santa Claus had a warm seat in the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre where he welcomed those anxious to see him with their Christmas wishes, including eight-year-old Emily Huang.
Huang talked to Santa about school. She explained to him her favourite thing to do at school is math, despite the fact that every Friday Huang and her classmates are allowed to bring their iPads to school to play on them.
“For like no reason,” she noted.
Luna, 4, and her sister Hanah, 2, were less enthused to see the Jolly Old Elf, clinging to their mother, Yeji Kim, as the photographer snapped a photo.
At the head of the parade was the Ridge Meadows RCMP with Emily Totten, 9, who got to be police chief for the day.
“It was really fun meeting all the police officers,” said Totten. “I got to go in the car and get shown a bunch of things and I got to have pizza and then we went to see Loki,” she said of the force’s police dog.
Totten was followed on the route by Castor Falconer, also 9, who was chosen to be fire chief for the day.
His favourite part was being able to eat pizza with the firefighters, in addition to riding on fire trucks, and being able to go on the Tower Truck.
Santa and Mrs. Claus were in a brightly lit carriage, pulled by two horses as the guests of honour at the end of the parade.
They had some advice for the children of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
“Take your vitamins and say your prayers,” said Santa.
“They’ld better be good and they better leave some cookies and carrots for Santa,” laughed Mrs. Claus.