"Sun shines on Six Nations Santa Claus Parade"

Santa Claus made sure he visited Six Nations right before the snow hit southern Ontario.

The sun was shining and only a light sprinkling of snow dusted the ground during the community's 24th annual Santa Claus Parade in the village of Ohsweken Saturday.

Dozens of colourful and sparkling floats lit up Chiefswood Road Saturday accompanied by cheery Christmas tunes, putting everyone in that jolly Christmas mood.

Six Nations Health Services wowed the crowd with its ethereal silver and white float graced by the Queen of Christmas, Six Nations Health Services Director Lori Davis-­Hill.

Children and adults alike were dazzled as she sprinkled sparkly snow along the parade route.

The Health Services float won first place by the parade's organizing committee, Community Minded Spirits in Action, taking home a cool $500 for their efforts.

Six Nations Bicentennial Daycare came in second place, and the Brant Family came in third place.

This year's theme was "A Christmas Wish."

Many floats had posters ex-pressing people's wishes: two front teeth, health, love, happiness, family, and to move to L.A. where it's nice and warm.

The Red Hats dazzled as always in their colourful purple and red float. A realistic and scary-looking Grinch graced another.

Children clamored to gather up candy handed out along the route by little elves while they waited for jolly old St. Nick himself.

Children jostled to get a photo with Santa when his chariot stopped at the community hall before following him inside like a celebrity to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas while community members enjoyed a delicious breakfast with Santa.

Angie Powless, a member of the organizing committee, said the event was beautiful and the weather was perfect. "I really gotta congratulate all the entries. They were just fabulous. They were elaborate. They just out-do each other each year."

She was hoping there would have been some floats celebrating some of this year's winning lacrosse teams but they were busy getting ready for a community-wide lacrosse celebration Saturday night.

Powless says the event is put on every year in order to put a smile on the faces of children.

"It's for the kids. That's our future."

Community Minded Spirits in Action fund raises throughout the year to put the parade on and to provide prizes for the winners of the floats.

This year's winners were:

Kids floats - First place: Kayleigh Lipski ($100). Second place: Kendrick Powless-Hill ($50)

General category:

First: Six Nations Health Services ($500) Second: Six Nations Bicentennial Daycare ($300) Third: Brant Family ($100)

Watch for our Christmas Wish Parade article in upcoming issues.