UPDATE: 6:30 p.m.
Hundreds of Kamloops residents lined downtown sidewalks on Sunday evening for the 41st annual Santa Claus parade.
After taking a one year hiatus due to the pandemic, the parade was back with this year’s theme, Luminous Loops.
Parade floats from a number of Kamloops businesses and organizations took part in the festivities, which kicked off at 4:30 p.m.
The parade wound its way from St. Paul Street and Second Avenue along to Victoria Street, ending at Sixth Avenue.
The event was also live streamed on Facebook for those who could not attend in person.
ORIGINAL: 11:25 a.m.
The Santa Claus Parade will return to downtown Kamloops on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, the festivities will begin at 4:10 p.m. downtown with a special Wake-Up Santa event, followed by the parade at 4:30 p.m.
The event will kick off at Second Avenue and St. Paul Street, traveling down Second Avenue to Victoria Street. The parade will proceed down Victoria Street, ending at Sixth Avenue.
KCBIA said the theme this year is “Luminous ‘Loops,” and parade entrants were encouraged to get creative with lighting.
"This is a significant year for us," Carl DeSantis, executive director for the KCBIA, said in a statement.
"We are excited to bring back the magic of Christmas for children of all ages. When dusk settles on the downtown, Victoria Street will come alive and ignite with illuminated floats, bands and other performers."
In addition to the parade, there will be games, hot beverages and photo opportunities.
There are two pre-parade musical performances being held downtown as well. According to the KCBIA, A capella group Slow No Tempo will be performing a pre-parade show at 3:30 at The Vic. The Kamloops Music Collective will also present Tuba Christmas at 3:30 in Kamloops Square.
The parade will be live streamed to Facebook for those unable to attend in person.