Another local tradition has been cancelled because of the pandemic.

The annual Santa Claus parade in High River has had to be postponed until, hopefully, next year.

Organizer Ted Dawson says it was a difficult decision.

"We kept hoping and hoping there was going to be some changes and whatever, but just the reality of trying to maintain social distancing and everything else and coupled with the fact folks are anxious to go and see and do something, we just thought that we're liable to be a little bit overwhelmed and so just to I guess out of an abundance of caution and concern for spectators and everything else we just thought it was safest and wisest to cancel it," he says.

They're also working on having the Santa Claus float in the park a couple days a week, perhaps Friday and Saturday, so kids can visit Santa, but there'll be no sitting on his knee.

He says another tradition will continue this year.

"We will still be doing the light displays in the park for folks to come and have a look," Dawson says. "Generally anybody that's walking, they're with their family or they're driving around in their car, so they're still able to enjoy that".

There are a couple of new light displays ready to make their debut this Christmas season.

He says planning is also underway for the skating rink in George Lane Park.

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? e-mail news@highriveronline.com