Cobourg News Blog

Plans are underway for a different kind of Downtown Christmas celebration this year – there will be lights as usual but no turning-on ceremony; instead of the 65th Santa Claus Parade there will be floats but only three of them and they won’t move – but there’s more.  The “downtown corridor” (presumably King Street) will be lined with trees that are to be decorated by the merchants. And residents are not left out – they will be challenged to decorate their homes and the Town will produce a “drive-by map” so others can enjoy.  These ideas were presented by the Town’s Marketing and Events manager, Kara Euale, at a presentation to Council on October 7 and briefly mentioned on my Post about that (see link below).

Static Floats

The floats will be static and parked downtown in a similar fashion to the pianos in some previous summers. That would mean at least one outside Victoria Hall. They are to be built by “local businesses and community organizations” with the winners selected by a competition.  It’s asked that anyone wanting to participate should submit drawings of what they propose. The top three submissions will be awarded $1000 to be put towards the building of their float. There have to be lights (the Town will supply power) and they must be family friendly. Advertising logos are allowed but the logos of the Town and DBIA must also be included. It’s expected the floats will be large but no bigger than 7ft x 20ft.  Drawings must be submitted no later than November 12 with winners notified by November 13.  Floats are to be completed and moved into place Friday, December 4.

The floats will have to be quite different to usual since nearly all those in parades that I’ve seen had lots of people on them.  One exception was the Restore float in 2014 – see photo. To remind yourself, here is a collection of photo/video galleries including Santa parades from 2014 through 2019. This program provides a chance for “local businesses and community organizations” to show some creativity – let’s hope this happens.

Send submissions and/or requests for more info to Jackie Chapman-Davis at [email protected]

Christmas Decorations

The DBIA and Council recently approved renting and installing the downtown “Curly-Q” lights once again but this year there will also be trees lining the “downtown corridor” – it’s hoped that trees outside stores will be decorated by those store owners. [Update below]  The idea is that the static floats and the decorated trees will attract people to Downtown – much like the Santa Parade and lights turning-on ceremony have done in previous years.

The Town also plans to challenge Cobourg residents to make a special effort to decorate their homes this Christmas and send photos to the Town.  The Town would then make a driving map available so others can enjoy their efforts.  No doubt the map would include the Esplanade and Victoria Park lights as well.

It’s expected that more information on the floats, trees and decorated houses will be provided  as we get closer to December [See Update below].

Links

• Review of Town Managed Events in 2020 – 11 October 2020
• Kara’s Presentation on Town’s You-Tube channel

Update – 5 November

The Town has now made an official announcement about the above.

The multiple decorated trees idea has gone – instead there will be:

Downtown Seasonal Decorations
In addition to the Downtown seasonal decorative lights, the Marketing and Events department and the Cobourg DBIA will decorate King Street and the downtown corridor with additional lights and decorations. Victoria Hall will also be decorated with a holiday village display.

Home decorating photo submissions are due Monday, December 11th and can be emailed to Jackie Chapman Davis at [email protected]

Official Announcement

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