By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The fifth annual Castleton Santa Claus Pet Parade – a Santa Claus Parade with a little something extra – is planned for December 8, and organizer Delia Leggett says it just keeps growing.
Instead of floats, young and old can enjoy the spectacle of watching dogs, horses, donkeys and other amazing animals parade past – some even decked out in their Christmas finery.
It began back in 2014, when a friend moving out of Warkworth gave Leggett strings and strings of Christmas lights and she had the idea of stringing them up on the streets in Castleton to add a little holiday cheer to the village. She even enlisted the help of the township in securing a boom truck to put them up.
Then, inspired by the colourful Christmas lights, she couldn’t help thinking how nice a parade would be. A half-dozen Santa Claus parades are already well established in the county. But as a devoted dog owner, she thought a nice variation might be a Santa Claus Pet Parade.
It turned out to be a wonderful idea, at least in part because Castleton demographics are fairly young, with so many couples having discovered it’s an affordable community for a family to own a home – and a desirable one for families with the Northumberland Hills Public School, which enjoys a good reputation.
Leggett got about eight participants for that first parade. For the fifth annual, she already has 12 dogs registered, along with eight horses, two goats and the possibility of a sheep.
Castletonian Ken Tate will bring his bagpipes to lead the way in Scottish regalia, and they have secured the services of another wonderful volunteer who will follow along behind the entire procession on an ATV for pooper-scooper duty.
The parade ends at the Castleton Town Hall, where organizers will have hot chocolate and cider ready. As well, a big beautiful sleigh will be set up to accept donations for both people and their pets through the Cramahe Food Bank and Pet Food Bank. And – appropriately for a pet parade – a donation box will accept donations for the Northumberland Humane Society.
Though they rely on advance registrations to make things more organized, they do welcome last minute add-ons. And little goody bags will be made up for the dogs and horses and other participants.
There are many tasks, big and small, that go into each year’s parade. Fortunately, Leggett has a committee to help get it all done, and the time and talents of Laura Berman, Michelle White and Ingrid Anderson are most appreciated.
Leggett has since moved to Cobourg, where she still walks her dog twice a day – that would be Willie, a rescue dog from Baffin Island of indeterminate breed (the most frequent guesses are poodle and sheepdog). But her fondness for Castleton continues, and she loves returning for the parade each Christmas.
“It still represents the heart of a very small community to run with something that’s becoming more and more popular,” she said.
The route starts at the sports-field road by the school on Spring Street, right on Oak Street, left on Pine Street, left on Norway, right onto Spring Street and on to the town hall for refreshments and carolling.
Pets and owners must be registered by December 6 (barleg300@gmail.com). You will be given your marshalling location, and rest assured dogs and horses will be kept separate.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
