Aldergrove’s annual Christmas parade might be in jeopardy, if it can’t find more volunteers.
Right now, there is only a small team working on planning the parade and pre-parade events.
One member of the team being Aldergrove resident Alyssa Nielsen, who has been involved in Christmas in Aldergrove for many years. With the low number of volunteers, the Christmas committee is concerned that the Christmas festivities can’t move forward.
After Robin McIntosh stepped down from his long-time role as president of the Aldergrove Fair Association, Nielsen said a vacancy has also been left to lead the Aldergrove Christmas events this year.
“What we really need are some of our amazing community members to join us, by volunteering to help make our Christmas events a success,” Nielsen shared.
Volunteers will be divided into teams to set up and break down the lights and booths at the tree-lighting ceremony in the plaza, and at the pre-parade festivities. They will also help keep the grounds clean, oversee coordination of the parade floats, and help children write and mail letters to Santa.
Nielsen suggests volunteering as a group or to get neighbours involved.
The second annual tree-lighting ceremony will take place Sunday, Nov. 26 in the Aldergrove plaza starting at 4:30 p.m. Mrs. Claus will tell the story of the Wishing Tree, and the public is invited to bring their wishes and tie them on the fence with a ribbon.
Jodi Steeves, Aldergrove Business Association president, offered to laminate the wishes before they’re hung, and will post dates and times when community members can pick them up at her office.
The parade was moved “due to unforeseen circumstances” to the third Saturday of December this year on Dec. 16 – typically its held on the second Saturday of the month.
Pre-parade activities start at 4:30 p.m. which will include free snacks and hot beverages, entertainment, and selfies with Santa.
The parade itself starts at 6 p.m.
“With the current state of the world, we need more than ever to pause and come together as a community during this beautiful season full of magic and wonder,” Nielsen concluded.
The parade runs through downtown Aldergrove following the pre-parade gathering at the plaza located at 272nd Street and Fraser Highway.
People interested in volunteering can email the Christmas committee at aldergrovechristmas@gmail.com.
The 111-year-old Aldergrove fair is also struggling to find volunteers for next year, and directors recently warned it may too have to be cancelled without enough people working on it.
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