Thousands attend Reverse Christmas Parade inside Point Pelee National Park

LEAMINGTON — Elves, superheroes, cartoon characters and a group of about 50 volunteers, joined Santa and Mrs. Claus to welcome about 1700 carloads of people to the first-ever Reverse Christmas Parade on Saturday night.

Point Pelee National Park was the setting for the annual Leamington District Chamber of Commerce Parade, put on in drive-thru style within the park.

The backdrop of a dark tree-lined parade route made the lights and sounds jump out at spectators, which made the visual even that much more appealing to those in attendance.

With the greatest of intentions, efforts were hampered by traffic issues, but the vast majority of float participants held on until the bitter end, staying well past the 8pm time slot to make sure everyone that got into the park got through the procession and managed to see Santa.

Traffic was lined up as far as the eye could see up Point Pelee Drive, the Bevel Line and Seacliff Drive, as thousands tried to get in to see the big guy himself.

To his credit, Santa was on the microphone all night and never wavered until the last car had passed his location, greeting each family with a friendly Ho! Ho! Ho!

Thirty groups, companies and organizations entered floats in this year’s parade.

Sun photos by Deanna Bertrand and Mark Ribble