GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Santa Claus made it all the way from the North Pole to Grand Rapids on Saturday morning as part of the annual Grand Rapids Santa Parade, sponsored by Gentex.
The parade began at Lyon Street and Monroe Avenue Northwest, headed down to Monroe Center, passed through Division Avenue and turned east on Fulton Street to end on Jefferson Street.
A free party was held for families at the First United Methodist Church parking lot on Fulton Street near where the parade ended on Jefferson. There, the Grand Rapids Children's Museum and Family Promise of West Michigan held some games for kids.
The 13 ON YOUR SIDE team walked in the parade smiling, waving and handing out candy canes.
Unfortunately, the adoptable dogs from the Humane Society weren't able to walk with the team.
However, the dogs were still able to make their Santa Parade debut by walking with members of the Humane Society who could make sure they were safe and calm with all of the noise and excitement from the parade happening around them.
Megan Bishop, the community programs coordinator at the Humane Society of West Michigan, walked alongside Freya, a dog hoping to find her "furever" home by Christmas.
Bishop said while puppies usually go quickly, it's important to remember the older dogs, too, around Christmas time.
"We want to make sure to spread awareness about the older dogs that we do have here in the shelter that they need love and homes too," Bishop said.
She said they're having a "Black Fur Day" special for Black Friday this year where the more black fur an animal has, the more discounted they are.
The parade was put together by city management and community partners. This year's group of organizers stepped in to save the parade after the Grand Rapids Junior Chamber said they wouldn't be able to make it happen.
The parade's grand marshal was Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.
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