Celebrate the Season: A Kickoff to Christmas in downtown Ponoka is set for Nov. 15.
Powered by key event sponsor FortisAlberta, the evening will feature a slate of festivities including:
• the annual Santa Claus Parade that will wind through downtown Ponoka at 5:30 p.m.
• tree lighting festivities and hot chocolate at about 6:15 p.m. at the town Christmas tree located beside the new Ponoka Legion building at 48 Ave. and 51 St.
• live music featuring the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra that will perform on a stage beside the Christmas tree from about 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.
• an animated, holiday-themed drone light show at about 8:15 p.m. that will be displayed over the Battle River Valley and can be viewed from 50 St. downtown
• Moonlight Madness and the launch of the Passport to Christmas program by the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce
The Santa Claus Parade will feature colourful, holiday-themed floats decorated by local businesses and community groups. The route will begin at the arena and continues:
• north along 54 St.;
• east on 46 Ave.;
• north on 50 St.;
• west on 51 Ave;
• south on 51 St.;
• west on 48 Ave., and south on 54 St. back to the arena.
The Town of Ponoka will set up temporary road closures along the parade route just before 5 p.m. The closures will be removed once the parade ends. To see a map of the route, visit www.ponoka.ca/p/christmas-in-ponoka.
Santa Claus and Tree Lighting festivities
Immediately after the parade ends, Santa Claus will arrive at the Christmas tree to hand out treats to young parade-goers. The tree lighting ceremony will bring greetings from Mayor Kevin Ferguson and event sponsors FortisAlberta and Ponoka County.
For those who cannot attend the parade and tree lighting ceremony in person, there will be a live stream available on the town's Facebook page.
Other festivities planned over the coming weeks include the annual Christmas light display at Lions Centennial Park, the community-wide Christmas lights tour of festively decorated homes, and the Ponoka Festival of Trees from Nov. 21 to 23 in support of the Ponoka and District Health Foundation. The Town of Ponoka will be sponsoring the Family Day Christmas Celebration on Nov. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets are available at
https://ponokahealthfoundation.com/festival-of-trees
Also, the Holiday Train will roll into Ponoka on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. with musical guests Magic! and Sofia Camara.
The Holly Jolly Skate at the Ponoka Arena will be held on Dec. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. and the New Year’s Eve Family Swim runs at the Aquaplex from 4 to 7 p.m. sponsored by Home Church.