Holiday spirits will soar with the return of Canada’s favourite family tradition, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE in an all-new, two-hour primetime event, premiering Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. ET, exclusively on CTV, CTV2, and CP24. Filmed at night inside Canada’s Wonderland, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE features 24 magnificent floats, spectacular marching bands, popular celebrity clowns, and plenty of festive decorations.
Produced by Bell Media Studios, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE is set to feature guest performers Ed Sheeran, Carrie Underwood, Tyler Shaw and The Tenors, Don Amero, Steven Lee Olsen and Pentatonix. The star-studded lineup joins returning hosts Melissa Grelo (THE SOCIAL), Kelsey McEwen (YOUR MORNING), and first-time parade host, Tyrone Edwards (ETALK).
“THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE is one of Canada’s most-beloved family events and we’re so excited to kick off the holiday season with our exclusive broadcast,” says Pat DiVittorio, Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty. “Our team has been working hard to produce a show that delivers a safe parade experience to all Canadians, while adding even more star power, exclusive performances, and holiday cheer than ever before.”
“For 117 years, the Parade has signalled the start of the holiday season,” said Clay Charters, President & CEO of The Original Santa Claus Parade, “With thanks to CTV and our partners, we are so excited to share the Parade with Canadians across the country, and to bring Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Parade’s wonderful floats and performances safely into their homes.”
Canada’s Wonderland has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with the iconic mountain, skating rink, stores, and trees covered in twinkling lights and serving as the perfect backdrop for THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE. New this year, a limited number of families are set to experience the magic of the parade in person, while skating on Snow Flake Lake and adhering to all local health and safety protocols.
The CTV float returns featuring a familiar family, CTV and CHUM FM’s Marilyn Denis, joined by her son Adam Wylde from 99.9 Virgin Radio, and his daughter, Everly. The float, named CTV’s Holiday Sleigh-in, highlights a new holiday film, which is one of many available on the CTV Holiday Hub, now streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV app, with no subscription or sign-in required.
Continuing the CTV holiday tradition, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE also features season’s greetings from celebrities around the world, including Alessia Cara, Iain Armitage, Russell Peters, Mickey Guyton, Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest, and more.
An encore presentation of THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE airs Saturday, December 11 at 1 p.m. on CTV. In addition to on-air coverage, CTV’s parade-day essential website CTV.ca/Santa returns with all of the latest THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE news, on-demand access post-broadcast, as well as exclusive video content.
