Join the Parade
Find out how you, your school, community group or business can be part of the parade.
Each year, the Oakville Santa Claus Parade welcomes businesses, organizations and community groups of all sizes to the parade. Find out how to apply below.
Floats and walking groups
Application and requirements
Please download and fill out the floats and walking group form, and email it to events@oakville.ca
- All float entries must meet the criteria outlined on the application form and subject to committee approval.
- Preliminary designs or photos are required with each application.
- Maximum number of walkers allowed per entry is 30. The minimum age for walkers is 10 years.
- Please note that Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus replica may NOT be included as part of any entry other than the Official Santa Claus Parade Float.
- Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis until capacity is reached or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first.
- The event is rain or shine.
$200 - Commercial (business and "for-profit" organization)
$75 - Community Group/School Fee (not-for-profit organizations, charities and publicly funded education institutes)
A mandatory pre-parade meeting will be held November 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the South Atrium.
A designate representing your parade entry must attend this meeting. New and returning entries must arrange for a representative to attend the meeting. Failure to attend this meeting will result in your entry being disqualified. No exceptions.
At this meeting all parade entries will receive their Final Information Package which includes information about parade line-up, new initiatives, and access and disbursement areas.
For the safety of all parade participants, the Oakville Santa Claus Parade kindly requests that if you are driving a motorized vehicle in the parade, you turn off your mobile device for the duration of the parade.
Bands
Application and requirements
Please provide a video or a link to a past performance of your marching band.
Please download and fill out the band form, and email it to events@oakville.ca
- The band agrees to supply the Town of Oakville with live band music for the Oakville Santa Claus Parade being held on November 16, 2024.
- The band agrees to play music for the duration of the parade, expected to last approximately 1 ½ hours
- All music must be Christmas/holiday in nature.
- All music must be family-friendly and entertaining to a family audience, primarily made up of children
- No Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus replica may be a part of any entry other than the Official Santa Claus Parade Float
- The event is rain or shine.
A mandatory pre-parade meeting will be held November 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the South Atrium.
A designate representing your parade entry must attend this meeting. New and returning entries must arrange for a representative to attend the meeting. Failure to attend this meeting will result in your entry being disqualified. No exceptions.
At this meeting all parade entries will receive their Final Information Package which includes information about parade line-up, new initiatives, and access and disbursement areas.
Vendors
Vendors inquiries should be submitted to events@oakville.ca.
Store fronts
Any store front wishing to place a table outside their business must apply for a Sidewalk Allowance permit, provided through the Engineering and Construction department. Please submit inquiries to events@oakville.ca.
Volunteer opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Oakville Santa Claus Parade. Please complete the volunteer application form and email the form to events@oakville.ca.
All applications must be received before 4 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024.
All volunteers must attend a mandatory pre-parade orientation in order to qualify. The mandatory pre-parade orientation will be on November 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the South Atrium at Town Hall.
Volunteers are needed to be enthusiastic parade characters or mascots, who will walk fully costumed as a holiday or cartoon character (including a head piece) for the entire parade route. The costume is an inflatable holiday-themed character. Costumes in previous years have been snowflakes, snowmen, gingerbread men, etc.
You will walk in groups of two or three characters and expected to be energetic and dramatic with your actions.
- This position is ideal for adults and high school students 14 years and older.
- This position requires the volunteer to walk the full parade route.
Volunteers are needed to guide our costumed friends through the parade, as some costumes have obstructed sightlines. Mascots rely on their escort to help them if crowds get a little too excited and to help them keep up with the parade.
- This position is suitable for adults or high school students aged 14 years and older.
- This position requires individuals to walk the full parade route.
Volunteers are required to assist police and security officers to ensure that traffic barriers are manned, provide directions to drop-off areas, and assist with general traffic control.
Other volunteer duties may include assisting along the parade route to help keep pedestrians off the road and to display holiday cheer throughout the parade.
- This position is ideal for adults and high school students aged 16 years and old.
A parade marshal will walk with an assigned section of the parade to ensure the parade keeps moving at the correct pace to avoid delays and gaps. Parade marshals will also ensure that spectators not crowd the road and that float participants are not throwing candy or other items of distribution.
- This position is suitable for adults and high school students aged 16 years and older.
- This position requires the individual to walk the full parade route.
Volunteers are needed who are enthusiastic and professional, who will walk for the entire parade route holding a parade sponsor banner. The banners have a metal/wood pole at the top and bottom of the banner and can be heavy. You will walk in pairs, one on each end of the banner and placed/ fed into that parade in a specific order.
- This position is ideal for adults or high school students aged 14 years and older.
- This position requires an individual to walk the full parade route.