Need a lift to the Downtown Christmas Parade on Sunday November 27th? Ride the Metrobus Santa Shuttle! The Metrobus Santa Shuttle is a new, free service provided by Metrobus, the City of St. John’s, and the Downtown Development Commission that will be used to transport spectators to the Downtown Christmas Parade. The Santa Shuttle will operate similar to the “Park-n-Ride” Shuttle that was used for St. John’s Maple Leafs hockey games, with the pick up sites located at the Confederation Building parking lot (behind the west block) and Bowring Park parking lot (on Brookfield Road).

Buses will begin leaving the Confederation Building Parking lot, on a load and go basis, at 12:00 noon. Buses departing from the Confederation Building location will drop Parade spectators off on Bannerman Road (next to Bannerman Park). Spectators will have to walk the short distance to the Parade route from there. The Parade starts at 1:30 pm and will last a little over an hour. Once everyone has seen Santa, those who took the Shuttle to the Parade from the Confederation Building can return to Bannerman Road and get back on the buses (they will be waiting there starting at 2:30 pm).

The Santa Shuttle buses coming from Bowring Park will also depart for the Parade beginning at 12:00 noon, once again on a load and go basis. Buses leaving Bowring Park will drop Parade spectators off at Mile One Stadium. When the Parade is over those who came to see Santa from the Bowring Park site can get back on the Shuttle buses, which will be waiting for them at Mile One starting at 3:30 pm.

Gaylynne Lambert, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) feels that the Metrobus Santa Shuttle is an excellent edition to the Downtown Christmas Parade, “The Shuttle is a great way for families who have no transportation or want to leave their vehicles at home to get Downtown and see Santa. And it is free!” Lambert says that, “we hope that those families who ride the Shuttle to the Parade, and can afford it, will donate a loonie or a twoonie in aid of Community Food Sharing Association instead of paying a fare”.

Ms. Lambert encourages everyone to arrive Downtown a little early to secure their favorite spot to see Santa and to take in all Downtown has to offer this time of year. Lambert says, “Grab a coffee or a hot chocolate and take your family on a stroll through Downtown. You could even do a little Christmas shopping and take in the atmosphere created by the on street decorations and the colourful store windows.”

For more information about the Metrobus Santa Shuttle you can call the Parade hotline at SANTA-HI (726-8244) or call the Metrobus Ride Guide at 722-9400.