True to his word, Santa Claus showed up for the Port Stanley Friday night Dickens Day Parade on November 29, 2019. The streets were lined with parents and excited children, and this year someone's Christmas wish got answered early as the bad weather was postponed to sometime tomorrow.

The older children know what this is all about and they were ready for the candy being given out and eager to catch a glimpse of Santa. The under fives are usually frightened by the loud sirens of the fire trucks that lead the parade and cry until they have passed.

Hosted each year by the Port Stanley Lioness and Lions clubs, the parade draws people from all around the region including Fingal, Shedden, Dutton, St. Thomas, Aylmer, London, and all places in between. This holiday season celebration brings out the best of community spirit, all joining to spread some joy across the faces of all that come to watch.

This years parade was the best one ever with plenty of well decorated floats. Fire Trucks always lead the parade with several Port Stanley Firemen following, collecting canned goods for the Port Stanley Foodbank while others were busy giving out candy to the kids.

The Port Stanley Lions and Lioness members marched next followed by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, and then the Port Stanley Village Association.

Next came the Debackere float with a vintage truck decked out with coloured lights and decorated tree.

Three Mocha Love bugs were next followed by an Apropos float that displayed some very tasteful holiday decorations and some hints on what to wear this holiday season.

The Jim's Lawn Care & Snow Plowing float was next which included a well thought out holiday scene with two people dressed up in red suits and black attachments walking along.

A large group from the Port Stanley Wave Synchronized Skating Club was next followed by my favourite the Optimist Club of Fingal - Shedden and District, Santa's Workshop float, but no matter how hard I try, I never see any elves inside busy at work making toys.

Seasonal music from the Tomato Soup Band float was next followed by a large group of Port Stanley Jr. Sailors, minor hockey stars in the making and Port Stanley Sailors Jr. C players.

More live seasonal music from the Mocha Shriners Trumpet Band float was next followed by the "Lets go to Kokomo" home sales decorated pink van.

A small self-propelled float made up as a small boat in rough water and included a rather large blow-up fish above the driver came next. This unique float had a good collection of holiday cheer but did not carry any club affiliation or identification to show it's sponsor. Next was the Forsythe Lawn Care float seasonally decked out with Frosty The Snow Man followed by a CrimeStoppers Jeep.

A great winter float was next that depicted a horse and sleigh travelling through the snow then another Crime Stoppers 4x4, a NAPA Autopro van, several Talbot Trail ATV's, a Scouts Canada hay wagon float and Elgin Hiking Trail Club float followed.

A float with a message to "Celebrate the gift of perfect life" by keeping your pregnancy alcohol free was followed next by Canada Post, and then Santa, of course, brought up the rear, being the star attraction for which everyone had been waiting for, and then it was all over for another year.

And as is tradition in Port Stanley, the Port Stanley Community Christmas Bazaar is always held the next morning, being a great place to get in some early Christmas shopping over at the arena.