TWO PARADES CALLED 'COLOSSAL WASTE'
Two parades are too many.
At least that's what many Windsor residents said Saturday night as they lined Sandwich Street, clutching hot beverages, for the 44th annual Santa Claus Parade.
"Having two parades just seems like a colossal waste," said 44-year-old Ben Grondin, who was their with his family. "The money could've been used better elsewhere. There are people who are hungry at Christmastime."
Last month, city council approved the Downtown Windsor BIA's request for temporary street closures to allow a Dec. 15 parade and Winter Fest in the city's core.
About a third of Winter Fest's $90,000 budget is going toward its Dec. 15 parade.
The parade on Saturday - which used to be held down-town until it moved to Olde Sandwich Towne in 2006, started at Atkinson Park, travelled west on Riverside Drive and continued along Sandwich Street into Olde Sandwich Towne - has a budget of about $10,000.
"I kind of think they should just make it one big grand parade," said Sue Rankin, 46, who was with her son, Brent Rankin, his fiancee Victoria Gushe and their 21-month-old daughter, Olivia Rankin.
Sue said that, depending on her granddaughter's reaction to the clamour of the parade, they might attend the second one in two weeks.
"The parade has been a tradition of ours for our whole lives," she said.
Organizers estimated Saturday's parade attracted about 60,000 spectators. This year's parade featured nine bands, five horse units, musical groups, community groups and the Canadian Cow Girls, who will also appear in the grand Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
Spectator Sean Fitzgerald reasoned that a second parade is fine for Windsor. "I think it's good because if you can't make the first one you can go to the second one," he said. "If you can make both, why not?"
Fitzgerald sat on the curb with his daughter Brianna, 7, waiting to cheer on his son Russell, who was carrying a flag for the Cub Scout float. He said that, depending on his family's schedule, they might attend the Dec. 15 parade.
A father of two and Chrysler worker said he never understood why the original parade left Ouellette Avenue to move to a residential street in the first place. He said businesses were missing out on parade-goers who came early or who wanted to linger after the show.
"Where do they go after this one? Home," he said.
Free carriage rides and entertainment were provided Saturday before the parade in Olde Sandwich Towne.
The Essex Santa Claus Parade will be held Saturday at 6 p.m.
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