Christmas Parade buttons are back in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The eight-member Christmas Parade committee is selling the buttons throughout town to help cover travel costs for marching bands coming into the parade. The pins have been available since late November.
John Strecker, head of the committee’s fundraising group, stood with donations boxes selling the buttons with friends on Friday in front of the old Courthouse.
They also sold buttons Saturday in front of Penner’s and the Independent Grocer on Queen Street and Monday at the tree lighting at the town hall in Virgil.
They will continue until parade day.
The committee produces about 2,200 buttons each year and tries to sell them all, Strecker said.
In past years, he said they have sold 2,000 buttons and raised more than $6,000.
Strecker has sold the buttons for 15 years, but said this will be the final year for him and his fundraising team.
“This will be our last year doing this as we are all getting older,” he said. Coun. Tim Balasiuk is set to take over Stecker’s role heading the selling of the buttons next year, he said.
Each button costs $3. This year’s design, created by the town’s art department, features a snowman against a blue sky.
Strecker said the volunteer work has been a joyful part of the holiday season.
“It is … probably one of the best small-town parades, and some would say one of the best parades in Canada,” he said.
The Christmas Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 at King and Centre Streets in Old Town and follows the town’s traditional route down Castlereagh, Wellington, Byron/Prideaux, Simcoe and Queen streets.
— With files from Paige Seburn
