Santa Claus is coming to town: Here are the parades in Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County

The holiday season is underway and there are many Santa Claus parades taking place over the next month.

K-W Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Nov. 18

9:45 a.m. start

The parade gets underway at 9:45 a.m. with the Santa Run, followed by the floats, bands and other groups walking the route. The parade will go along Weber Street, from Frederick Street in Kitchener to Erb Street in Waterloo.

People can bring their letters to Santa, and donations will be accepted for the food bank and a toy drive.

• K-W Santa Claus Parade website

Cambridge Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Nov. 18

6 p.m. start

The parade will move along Hespeler Road from Dunbar Road to Langs Drive.

• Cambridge Santa Claus Parade website

CPKC Holiday Train

Thursday, Nov. 23

4 p.m. arrival in Cambridge

5:20 p.m. arrival in Ayr

The CPKC Holiday Train is back with free concerts and lots of lights decorating the train. The event is a fundraiser for local food banks.

• CPKC Holiday Train website

Ayr-North Dumfries Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Nov. 25

1 p.m. start

The parade will take place in Ayr. It will start on Northumberland Street at Inglis Street, then will make its way downtown and end at the Ayr Library on Stanley Street.

Santa will also visit with children after the parade in Centennial Park.

• North Dumfries calendar event page

Elora Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Nov. 25

6:15 p.m. start

This year's theme is "Lots of Lights" and the parade route has changed this year. It will move from Geddes Street, turn left onto ColborneStreet and then right onto North Queen Street, ending at Bissell Park.

• Elora Lions website

Puslinch Santa Claus Parade

Sunday, Nov. 26

2 p.m. start

The parade will start at the township office on County Road 34, go east to Brock Road, then south to Maple Leaf Lane and end at the Optimist Recreation Centre.

Santa will then green children and take photos. There will be free hot dogs and hot chocolate and children can put their letters to Santa in the mailbox.

• Optimist Club of Puslinch event calendar

Elmira Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Dec. 2

10 a.m. start

The parade will start at the corner of William Street and Arthur Street, proceed down Arthur Street to First Street, then turn into First Street to finish at the Legion.

• Elmira Kiwanis event page

Hespeler Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Dec. 2

12 p.m. start

The parade will run along Queen Street W. from Groh Avenue to the corner of Guelph Avenue and Sheffield Street.

Santa will also visit the Scout House in Forbes Park after the parade. Donations to the Cambridge Food Bank will be accepted and people are encouraged to bring their letters to Santa, too.

• Hespeler Santa Claus Parade website

Fergus Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Dec. 2

1:30 p.m. start

There's a new route for this year's parade. It will start on Hill Street W. near the A.O. Smith parking lot, then travel along Maple Street, St. Andrew Street W. and St. David Street N., before returning to Hill Street W.

• Downtown Fergus event page

Guelph Santa Claus Parade

Sat. Dec. 2

5:30 p.m. start

New this year, the parade in Guelph will be held in the evening and will be combined with the mayor's tree lighting and holiday markets in the downtown. It's all part of an event called Spirit of the Season.

The parade will go along Norfolk Street, turn left on Quebec Street, then right on Wyndham Street N. before ending just after Carden Street. The mayor's tree lighting will take place after the parade.

People are encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and donations for the food bank.

• Guelph Santa Parade website

Stratford Santa Claus Parade

Sun. Dec. 3

5 p.m. start

The parade runs along the shoreline of the Avon River, starting at Hillcrest Drive and William Street, moving east along William Street to Lakeside Drive N., then across Festival Bridge before heading west along Lakeside Drive past the Stratford Festival and ending at the Tom Patterson Theatre.

• City of Stratford event page

New Hamburg Santa Claus Parade

Sun. Dec. 3

6 p.m. start

The parade route starts at Norm Hill Park, travel along Bleams Road E., turn right on Peel Street, make a slight left onto Huron Street before going right on Union Street to return to Jacob Street and then back to the park.

• New Hamburg Board of Trade website

Christmas Tyme in Wellesley

Fri. Dec. 8

6:30 p.m. start

The parade will leave the new arena in the Village of Wellesley, travel down Queens Bush Road, right onto Nafziger Road, then left on Maple Leaf Street, ending at the community centre.

There will be a live nativity, the tree of lights and carol singing at the pond at 7:30 p.m. A craft market will also be held at the Wellesley Community Centre on Thursday and Friday evening.

• Township event page

Rockwood Farmers' Santa Claus Parade of Lights

Thurs. Dec. 14

7 p.m.

Thisunique parade sees local farm families decorate tractors, combines and other farming vehicles with holiday lights and scenes for the nighttime parade.

The route runs from just north of the village limits on Main Street N., turns right on Alma Street (Highway 7), then right on Fourth Line.

• Facebook event page

Did we miss a parade? Email us and let us know the details.