Over 50,000 spectators had their Christmas wishes granted as they were treated to a fantastic array of floats, marching bands, dancing groups, cheerleaders and zany characters at the 2005 Downtown Christmas Parade. The Parade made its way from the former Memorial Stadium through historic Downtown St. John’s with Santa’s hearty “Ho Ho Ho” delighting the thousands of children who came to see him.

Employees of Newfoundland Power, a corporate sponsor of the event, were out in full force gathering food for Santa’s annual food drive. Over 16,000 pounds of food was collected in aid of the Community Food Sharing Association as well as several thousand dollars in loonies and twoonies. Securicor, a Downtown Company and also helped collect coins along the Parade route.

The winners of various categories for the 2005 Downtown Parade were:

Best Float Over 20 Feet:
1. St. John’s First Assembly Kid Connection
2 Metrobus
3 Exit Realty

Best Float Under 20 Feet :
1. Rovers Ground Search and Rescue
2. Nerds On Site
3. Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Best Performing Groups
1. Fusion Dance Studio
2. Connie Parsons School of Dance
3. Barbara Ashley School of Dance

Best Marching Band
1. Salvation Army Citadel Band
2. 2355 CLB Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corp
3. 166 RCSCC Fort Townshend Sea Cadets

Best Cheerleading Group
1. Bishop’s College
2. St. Kevin’s High School
3. Prince of Wales Collegiate

There will be no time to rest as Santa will be busy answering a sleigh full of letters collected by his special elves from Canada Post.

The Downtown Development Commission would like to thank Newfoundland Power, McDonald’s, The Express, NTV, OZ FM, The Newfoundland Herald, as well as the hundreds of Parade participants, volunteers and community agencies who made the event such a success.