The theme for the 36th annual Santa Claus Parade in High River is 'Together for the Holidays'.

And for the first time since the pandemic, it will be a full live parade, much like the Little Britches Parade in the spring was.

Head organizer Ted Dawson says for the first time ever we're going to have some marching bands.

"This year we've actually got the Calgary Round-Up Band and the Calgary Stetson Show Band, and we can't thank Bill Holmes over at Spitzee school enough because he's agreed to let the bands kind of organize at Spitzee school so we can get them all fed and watered and then they can get organized to go out for the parade."

Dawson also says in order to keep the parade as safe as possible for the children candy will be handed out a bit differently this year. 

"So, then instead of entries passing out candy we've got a candy crew now and all the candy gets pooled and then that will be distributed around to the children on the parade route prior to the parade starting." 

The parade is set for Friday December 2nd at 6:30 p.m. but the entertainment gets started at 5 with Light Up at George Lane scheduled for 6:00 p.m.