GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It seems the big man in red is coming to town after all!
About two weeks after the Grand Rapids Junior Chamber announced they were canceling the Santa Parade, the City of Grand Rapids says the parade will continue as scheduled.
The 2023 Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at the corner of Lyon Street and Monroe Avenue NW. The parade will travel down Monroe to Monroe Center Street to Division N. to Fulton Street E to Jefferson Street NE.
Parade events will wrap up around 11 a.m. in the parking lot of First United Methodist Church where organizers will host a party for kids and families.
New organizers said the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and Family Promise of West Michigan will be on hand to provide fun activities.
And Santa also will stop by to visit with families.
Grand Rapids Office of Special Events pulled together event organizers, volunteers and business leaders to continue the family-friendly event.
Those who helped keep the tradition going include Amway River Bank Run, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Grand Rapids Fireworks and other signature events.
City of Grand Rapids Special Events Manager Evette Pittman said that several people contacted the Special Events office after the announcement and “asked us to do everything possible to keep this great tradition alive. We went to work immediately to do just that. I am very pleased with the collaborative response from our community and staff and am proud that we will celebrate a 102nd Santa Parade here in Grand Rapids on November 18.”
The Junior Chamber had previously said the cancelation was due to "recent unplanned leadership changeover and chapter capacity constraints." The organization said this caused a significant challenge in organizing and executing the event at their high standards.
Organizers are working to update the santaparadegr.com website with new information. For the time being, you can visit the event's Facebook page here for the latest.
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