Friday, December 21, 2018

Parade

The main Santa Claus parade took place on a snowy day in mid-November. Starting at City Hall, working its way west along Laurier Avenue, south along Bank Street, and all the way to Lansdowne Park, the parade is an annual tradition, big, and fairly well attended. I followed the parade along the way, taking shots as I went, though this year I missed Saint Nick, who would have been near the end.


These first shots are along Laurier. The Minion caught my eye, as my friend Norma is slightly obsessed with them. Looking at the building beyond it, the Lord Elgin Hotel is caught in its reflection.


This old fashioned fire truck was at the intersection of Laurier and Elgin. The provincial courthouse on the property at City Hall is in the background at left, while First Baptist Church is at right.


The Capital City Garrison 501st Legion is a group of Star Wars cosplayers who regularly participate in events like this. The last time I saw any of them was back during the Dragon Boat Festival in the summer. Have a look at this post from my writer's blog where I covered that event to see two of them.


Darth Vader's idea of a Christmas gift involves severing your hand with his lightsaber and telling you he's your father's second cousin's roommate's younger sister's ex-boyfriend's neighbour's best friend's uncle. "It is useless to resist the jingle bells!"


I ascended an exterior staircase at a building over at the intersection of Laurier and Bank to get higher shots.


Walking along Bank, I photographed a group of young women who dress as fairy tale princesses for children's birthday parties and that sort of event. 


Three sports teams operate out of Lansdowne for soccer, hockey, and football. This trailer toted one of the mascots and some of the cheerleaders for the football team, the Redblacks.


The Redblacks mascot Big Joe was walking ahead, and here he is. I have more of the parade tomorrow.

32 comments:

  1. Santa Claus parades for all ages!! The magic of Christmas!
    I haven't gone to one for a while now. Maybe next year...

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  2. In mid-November already - and you have snow, too?!
    Oh, my, just imagine they really went out to save lifes with such a truck...
    Not a fan of Star Wars, but this is cute!
    Wow, some mascot you have!
    We don´t have such parades but once I saw the Coca Cola trucks, it was impressive.

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  3. Neat parade photos! Thank you
    Santa at the end of the parade brings back memories! Despite knowing the truth, seeing Santa at the Thanksgiving Day parade was super exciting...There he is! Like he was real to me. Lol

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  4. A Christmas parade that is new for me. I didn't know you had pareades at his time of the year.

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  5. Such a parade with Santa is unknown overhere.

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  6. Nothing says Christmas like stormtroopers! :-)

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  7. Those horses are powerful creatures - and beautiful too.

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  8. so cool!! love the parade characters!! what fun! always a Star Wars fan. ( ;

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  9. @Catarina: I go to this one and the St. Patrick's Day parade, and generally for the photo ops.

    @Iris: snow came quite early this year!

    @Maywyn: this year, the parade was long enough that I made the decision not to wait on St. Nick.

    @Francisco: thank you!

    @Marianne: it's an annual tradition.

    @Jan: traditions are different there.

    @Sandi: that's true! :)

    @David: I agree.

    @Beth: thanks!

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  10. ...a fun, festive,cold parade. You folks in Ottawa are a hardy bunch.

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  11. I like our little town parade, but I gave it a miss this year because the rain didn't appeal to me.

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  12. It is such fun to see all of the characters out to amuse the kids!

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  13. Darth Vader in a black Santa hat is just wrong in so many ways. I love that first shot.

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  14. @Tom: it is a fun parade to take in!

    @Anvilcloud: if only it rained between midnight and six in the morning.

    @RedPat: it was, yes.

    @Red: definitely!

    @Sharon: yes, Santa has gone all Dark Side.

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  15. These Christmas parades are such fun …

    All the best Jan

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  16. Now THIS is an interesting Santa parade -- lots more than ours! I love it!

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  17. A surprising parade! I wonder if Santa was present? :)

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  18. This is the best way to see a parade when it's cold outside! Tweeted.

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  19. Wonderful photos of a fun parade ^_^

    Happy Holidays to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  20. @Jan: yes they are.

    @Jeanie: it's a big parade.

    @Jennifer: indeed!

    @Marleen: this year I decided to forego seeing him. It was a very long parade.

    @Mari: cold is good for a Santa parade.

    @Carol: thank you!

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  21. Parades are fun to see. This one is outstanding!

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  22. Love this parade, especially Darth Vader with his black Santa cap. Beautifully captured William.

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  23. Great parade, I love to see.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!
    May 2019 will be full of health, joy and love for you and you loved ones.
    Best wishes
    Maria de
    Divagar Sobre Tudo um Pouco

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  24. Awesome! I have never seen a Christmas parade...

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  25. What a great parade. I love the old fire engine:)

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  26. @Bill: it is!

    @Denise: thanks!

    @Maria: thank you.

    @Aritha: so did I.

    @Italiafinlandia: I missed it this year.

    @Rosie: I do too.

    @Klara: that it is.

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