Santa Claus making special summertime visit to Moncton
The City of Moncton has been making a list and checking it twice to ensure everything is just right for a special visitor this weekend.
Santa Claus is stopping by the Hub City to spread some Christmas cheer, in the middle of the summer.
Jillian Somers, the events and tourism director for the city, says the visit is part of the municipality's "Summer in the City" initiative, offering events throughout the summer that comply with current COVID-19 restrictions.
"When we looked at the 24th and the 25th of July falling on a weekend, we thought 'what better way to bring a little hope and cheer', and couldn't we all use that after the 18 months we've been through? So we invited Santa and he, thankfully, said yes," says Somers.
Saint Nick will arrive in style on Saturday, riding on his signature float from the Greater Moncton Santa Claus parade, which was cancelled last year due to COVID-19.
"I figured I'd do a little stop in, make sure everyone's doing great, make sure everybody's behaving and getting all ready for hopefully a wonderful season," said Santa from his workshop at the North Pole.
"We were disappointed obviously in 2020 to have to postpone to cancel for that year, so we're bringing them out. We're bringing our large lit Christmas tree and Santa's sleigh," says Somers.
Santa will be on Downing Street in the city's downtown core for two hours beginning at six o'clock.
"We have a large platform complete with Plexiglas so children can go visit, chat with him and have their picture taken in a way that is COVID compliant," says Somers.
Downing Street between Main Street and Assomption Boulevard will be closed for the day to allow for the visit.
A rain date of Sunday, July 25 has been set.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.