Burlington Santa Claus Parade moves to Guelph Line for December 6
The city shifted the route away from Central Park to keep the library and park open on Sunday, while adding a warm-up spot at the Lions Club Hall.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
The 2026 Santa Claus Parade in Burlington will use a new path starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. The event begins at the intersection of Guelph Line and Prospect Street, south of the Burlington Centre mall. This marks a shift from previous years where the parade required closures in Central Park.
City officials announced that the procession will move south on Guelph Line before turning west onto New Street and James Street. The route then heads north on Brant Street to the corner of Caroline Street. Floats, community groups, and the Burlington Teen Tour Band will occupy Prospect Street east of Guelph Line as a staging area. Parts of Brant Street and Blairholm Avenue will serve as the dismantle zone when the parade concludes.
The primary reason for the route change is to allow Central Park facilities to operate normally. The Burlington Public Library’s Central Branch and other park amenities will keep their regular Sunday hours. In past events, restricted access to Central Park parking lots and temporary closures of facilities were common. The new layout removes these disruptions for the public.
On parade day, the Burlington Lions Club will open its hall at 471 Pearl St. from noon to 3 p.m. The space will be available for visitors to warm up, use restrooms, and drink hot cocoa. Admission is free. The Lions Club also organizes the Burlington Festival of Lights in Spencer Smith Park.
Participants are encouraged to bring letters for Santa, which Canada Post carriers will collect during the event. The Burlington Teen Tour Band Boosters will gather non-perishable food items, while the Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club will accept cash donations for the Burlington Food Bank.
The city plans to publish specific road closure details on its Road Closures web page one week before the event. Updates will also be sent via the city’s e-newsletter. The Burlington Public Library is asking residents to submit photos of past parades for its Digital Archive.
The new route ends at the intersection of Brant Street and Caroline Street. The city has not yet released the final list of road restrictions, but the main thoroughfares involved are Guelph Line, New Street, James Street, and Brant Street.
