…nothing was on fire during this years Vankleek Hill Santa Claus Parade. Which, honestly, was a little disappointing because, for quite a few years, the VKH SC Parade featured the baskets from hot-air balloons, carried in the back of pickup trucks, filling the air with flames from their burners. It was always pretty cool, especially when they got a little too close to the overhead wires. At least they left the streetlights on this year — in past years, the Township had turned off the lights on Main Street during the Parade, which made it incredibly difficult to take photos [shots from 2013] of the Parade. Not that this years version was a lot easier to shoot, even with the streetlights on. Basically, when it’s this dark, I set my camera on ‘Sports’ (multiple shots) and just hold the trigger down, hoping for the best.

I don’t remember ever attending the VKH Santa Parade when I was a kid… but I was in it once though. I was a member of Vankleek Hill’s ‘Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps’ [their FB Page] (really), and we all walked together — for Country, the Hill, and Santa. It was not a good time. I think I was fourteen, I remember it was very cold, snowing, and a very, very, very long walk. All we had, as we walked from ESVCI, along Stanley, and up to Main, then back around to the high school, were these light overcoats, and we had to wear our berets, and no toques. I don’t think I even had gloves on… and it was freaking cold the whole way. There was no marching involved, we basically all huddled together for the entire thing, desperate for warmth.

This year’s Parade in VKH was also very cold, and I also forgot my gloves… actually, I couldn’t find them because they were packed away because it was still only November when the Parade happened, and it’s not supposed to be that bitter fricking cold this early.

In the past, I’ve only taken photos of the Santa Parade when I brought my kids to it, and then only to take photos of them and Santa. The parade used to stop downtown, at the Post Office, and Santa would sit up in his sleigh and the general public would lineup to bring their kids to the Big Guy… then we could take photos of, hopefully, everybody smiling. Victor always loved doing that. It was always chaos, but I think it would be a really good idea to do that again. Quintin, on the other hand, has *always* been very nervous about meeting Santa, so he has never actually met Santa… I did manage to get a shot of him waving to Santa at this years Parade in Hawkesbury [my Parade shots here], so that might be a good sign.

…anyway, I guess we’re actually all here for the photos of the Vankleek Hill Santa Claus Parade so, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and all of that great stuff from all of us here at VKHPhotos… which is actually just me and my cat, Gilbert.

So… to see the photos of a totally real Santa Claus, and the parade celebrating this fantastic time of year, go ahead and click on the first photo to get the carousel going. I hope you enjoy them… it’s good to be productive again.