The 58th Annual Santa Claus Parade (2023)/Telecast Script

Below is the English telecast script for the 2023 Santa Claus Parade.

## Moment of Silence

Les Marshak: Before we begin, we would ask that everyone would please remain quiet at this time. Thank you. Before we start our coverage of TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade, we would like to have a moment of silence for everyone who has died during the war between Israel and Palestine. Millions of people have lost their lives during these challenging times, and thousands more are fighting for their homeland. As a way of showing respect for those who have lost their lives during this battle, we ask everyone, including our online viewers, to please join us in a moment of silence.

Thank you to everyone for showing their respect, and may those who have died rest in peace. Now, we will begin our broadcast.

## Opening

Les Marshak: Live from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we are proud to present the biggest parade in the world! Welcome to the 2023 TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade! For the 58th year, Toronto's nighttime holiday parade is back on the streets, ready to light up the night! Get ready for 53 mind-blowing floats, 40 of the world's best marching bands, hundreds of colourful characters, and ushering in the holiday season, Santa Claus! All this and more on TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade, broadcasted on every network around the world!

## Hosts' Introduction

Les Marshak: And now, here's your hosts, Savannah Guthrie and Ken Shaw!

Savannah: After 364 days of waiting, the biggest parade in the world is back and ready to march down the streets of Toronto once again! Good evening, and welcome to the Santa Claus Parade, a holiday treat for the whole world to enjoy, literally! Hi everyone, my name is Savannah Guthrie, and I am thrilled to host this year's Santa Claus Parade! With me is my partner, Ken Shaw, who you're all probably familiar with. As for me, this is my first time hosting the parade and I am super excited.

Ken: I'm excited to have you in my over-the-top booth, Savannah. So, this isn't the only parade you're hosting, as you're hosting the Macy's Parade in New York as well!

Savannah: I sure am! Now, we can't forget about fellow Macy's Parade host Hoda Kotb who is on the sidelines! How's everything down there, Hoda?

Hoda: Oh, everything is looking amazing Savannah! We've got so many people joining us from across the globe and they are hyped for this year's parade! I think this is the largest crowd we've ever had in the parade's history! We've got all of these amazing spectators, young and old, and we've also got all the inflatables in the background, everything is looking amazing and we can't wait for the big parade! I'm gonna catch up with you guys in a few minutes, so take it away!

Ken: Thanks Hoda! Now, before we get on with the show, we should point out that this year's parade is going to feel different, but it'll still have the magic of previous parades. For the first time ever, the parade is independent, meaning this is the first time the parade is not run by any companies or the city of Toronto.

Savannah: That's right, this is the first time the parade is run by itself only with no companies helping with it. In fact, TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade is the first parade to do that ever. Usually you're used to seeing companies in parades, but not this time. Companies are no more.

Ken: This parade will have 53 floats and they are bigger and better than ever before!

Savannah: And we can't forget about the marching bands, and this year there are 40 of them, which is the most in the parade's history!

Ken: Wow. Also, we are bringing back elements of the past! This year's parade will have over 1000 marchers wearing colourful costumes, including new recreations of old costumes that a lot of our older spectators might remember from parades of past decades.

Savannah: You can tell they lost their minds when planning everything out. This is what happens when you aren't being controlled by a major corporation or the city itself, and that's actually a good thing because now that nobody's controlling them, they are free to do whatever they want.

Ken: Well, now you know what's changed and what hasn't.

Savannah: Y'know, I think we have more personality than ever this year.

Ken: Good point, we've had personality before but now that I get to sit with a lady in my booth again, our personalities just got even better.

Savannah: Hopefully we won't be annoying anyone.

Ken: What are you talking about? We're never annoying!

Savannah: Our purpose as hosts is to make the parade more fun for everyone, and y'know Ken, hosting it is just as fun as watching it.

Ken: Oh, it certainly is. Well, the parade still hasn't arrived yet, so allow me to show you my over-the-top booth that a lot of you might remember for last year's parade.

Savannah: Ken, this looks amazing!

Ken: Thanks! As you can see, we are surrounded by these Christmas inflatables that I bought at a whole bunch of retailers that sell Christmas yard decorations. I won't reveal any of them because of you-know-what, but I will tell you about some of these inflatables. Behind me is my personal favourite, Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Savannah: \*Laughs\* I can't get over how funny this one is. Look at his face! I'm literally crying of laughter right now.

Ken: Then over here, this is actually a new one, it's the Grinch getting a toy train into his bag.

Savannah: Ooh, that's clever!

Ken: Then all the way over here is Santa relaxing in a beach chair.

Savannah: That's hilarious. \*Laughs\*

Ken: I can't help but laugh either! But it doesn't stop there! We also have all of these white Christmas lights, I've got a TV screen over here which is playing one of my favourite Christmas movies, Home Alone, because who doesn't love Home Alone?

Savannah: I love that movie! There's Harry and Marv, and then watch what happens, POW! \*Laughs\*

Ken: Here's my Christmas tree with all of my favourite ornaments that I bought at my favourite ornament store, and there's even an actual working fireplace! Just try not to step in it, okay?

Savannah: Relax, I'm not gonna let my foot catch on fire. I'm just gonna let it warm me up.

Ken: Oh, we're warm already! Aren't you lucky we're in here and not outside in the freezing cold?

Savannah: Oh, I sure am! Sorry Hoda, better luck next year. \*Laughs\*

Ken: If you're like Savannah and this is your first time watching the parade, don't worry, because we'll tell you all about the history of the Santa Claus Parade, from the late 19th century to now in this animated short.

## History of the Parade

Savannah: Do you want me to read this or should you take care of it because it's my first time hosting?

Ken: No, you go ahead. This is basically a history lesson that you're reading about.

Savannah: Okay then.

Savannah: We start in the year 1887, where a city in Illinois under the name of Peoria came up with the idea of having a parade for Santa Claus, so they dreamed up a way of welcoming Santa to the city by having a big parade. Many people loved this idea, and it inspired Eaton's, a Toronto-based company to start something big, and that's exactly what they did in 1905, when they had Santa ride in on a train and climbing to the top of Eaton's Department Store. And thus, the Toronto Santa Claus Parade was created! Through the years, the parade would grow in size, and it would eventually inspire cities and towns all over the world to throw their own parades. Some of the most notable parades inspired by Eaton's wonderful creation include Philadelphia's 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first American Thanksgiving Parade in America, which began in 1920, and it would clear the way for more parades, most notably the most famous parade in the world, New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has been entertaining audiences since 1924.

Ken: Then we reach 1966, when a new Santa Claus Parade was created. This one also took place in Toronto, and the reason it was created was so it could compete with Eaton's because they knew how popular Eaton's parade was, so they wanted to compete with Eaton's to see who has the better Santa Claus Parade.

Ken: In 1984, cities and companies would start sponsoring floats. Licensed floats would start popping up in the 90's, and the parade would get bigger and better as the years went on.

Savannah: From the parade's inaugural year to 1998, this parade would be held the Saturday before the Toronto Santa Claus Parade. But in 1999, a tradition began. For the first time, the parade was held on the same day as the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, but because the other Toronto parade was already being held in the daytime, this one was held at night. Ever since 1999, almost every Santa Claus Parade has been held at night.

Ken: Now, for the first time in the parade's history, while this parade is still being held at night, it's not on the same day or weekend as Toronto's other Santa Claus Parade. That parade will be held in a week on the 26th, so if you're interested in watching that parade, feel free to stay all you want. But tonight, we're here on Parade Night 2023, November 19th, 2023, where everyone is all ready for what promises to be the biggest and best parade yet!

Savannah: Well, I hope you guys learned a lot! I sure did. This is one of two big Santa Claus Parades in Toronto. Earlier today was the Toronto Santa Claus Parade which is the daytime parade, and this is TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade, which is the nighttime parade, and that's the parade you're watching right now. This is the largest nighttime Santa Claus Parade in the world, even larger than Brampton, Ontario's Santa Claus Parade, Winnipeg, Manitoba's Santa Claus Parade, Chicago, Illinois' Miracle Mile Lights Festival, and even the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles, California. Now let's head down to Hoda, who's meeting so many new friends lining the streets.

## Spectator Interviews

Hoda: Savannah, I'm not lying when I tell you that this is the most hype crowd I've ever seen! This is the largest crowd we've seen in the parade's history, made up of parade lovers from all over the world! I'm gonna speak to a lot of them as the parade passes by, so if you wanna be on TV, now's the best time! This is a spectator lightning round, here we go! Let's start with this group of teenagers over here. Hi guys! Where are you from?

Spectator: Hi! We're from Deijong, South Korea!

Hoda: Wow! Y'know, I love meeting people from South Korea, they have so much energy and they're always happy to be here. Who are you most looking forward to seeing?

Spectator: There's a few Asian bands this year and we're excited to see all of them, but the band we're most excited to see is the Toho High School Band!

Spectator: They're from Japan.

Spectator: Yeah, they're from Japan, and South Korea and Japan are like best buds so we're excited to support them!

Hoda: I'm excited to see Toho High School too! In fact, a lot of people are excited to see them. Well, have fun you guys! Oh, you look like you wanna talk to me! Nice to meet you!

Spectator: Same to you!

Hoda: Where are you from?

Spectator: Well, I'm from American Fork, Utah, and I'm here to see my friends that are in the American Fork High School Marching Band!

Hoda: So you're supporting your friends, I love it! I'll keep an eye out for your friends! Hi guys! Where are you from?

Spectator: We're from Stowe, Vermont, and this is our daughter's first Santa Claus Parade, and she's very happy to be here!

Hoda: That's adorable! Enjoy your first parade little one! We got some people over here, hey guys!

Spectators: Hola!

Hoda: Hola to you too! Where did you guys arrive from?

Spectator: We're from Valencia, Venezuela and we're excited to see the marching bands from Panama and Belize!

Spectator: We're cheering for our fellow Latinos!

Hoda: Aww, that's so sweet! I love it when people are supportive! Adios and Feliz Navidad!

Spectators: Adios!

Hoda: Hey buddy! Where did you come from to see the parade?

Spectator: I came here from Buffalo, New York, and I'm happy to be here!

Hoda: Oh, I can tell! Who are you most excited to see?

Spectator: My friend's in this parade! He's a walrus, so if you see him, tell him I say hi! And, no I'm not making it up, my friend is an actual walrus. Call me crazy all you want, but it's true, believe me.

Hoda: Alright, I'll try my best! Have a great time at the parade! Hey guys, how's it going?

Spectator: We're doing great!

Hoda: Can you guys tell me where you came to see the parade?

Spectator: We're from Frankfurt, Germany!

Spectator: Our son has been wanting to come here for years, and even though there aren't any German bands in this year's parade we're still excited to be here!

Hoda: Well, your son's wish has finally come true! Enjoy the parade! How about you, little girl? Where are you from?

Spectator: My family is from Clarksville, Tennessee! I've always wanted to go to the parade and I'm very excited to see it!

Spectator: She's been talking about it for weeks.

Hoda: Oh, I can imagine what that would be like! Enjoy the show guys! We've got some more teenagers over here. Hey guys! Where are you guys from?

Spectator: We're from Lakewood, New Jersey, this is our first time watching the parade in person, and shoutout to my mom for driving us here!

Hoda: Your mom drove you?

Spectator: She sure did.

Spectator: It was a long drive but it was worth it.

Hoda: That's a dedicated mom right there. Bye guys! And hello to this family from...

Spectators: Bangkok, Thailand!

Hoda: Oh, love the energy! Are you guys excited?

Spectator: Yes we are! Especially our kids, they couldn't stop talking about it.

Hoda: Well, I'm not surprised! Have fun! We've got a group of adults who are from...

Spectators: Bolton, England!

Spectator: We've been coming to this parade for years and we're happy to be here!

Hoda: Ah, you're keeping a tradition alive, I like it! Have fun guys! Hey there! Where did you guys come from?

Spectator: We came here all the way from Uganda!

Hoda: Oh, so you're representing Africa!

Spectator: Indeed we are. Our kids have been excited for the parade all month and they're even more hyper now that we're here!

Hoda: Well, it looks like you made their day. Have fun guys!

Spectator: Bye!

Hoda: Oh, a married couple! Congrats on your marriage!

Spectators: Thank you!

Hoda: Where are you guys from?

Spectator: We're from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Spectator: This is our honeymoon trip.

Spectator: We chose Toronto as our honeymoon because why go to a beach when you can spend your honeymoon watching the biggest parade in the world?

Hoda: \*Laughs\* Well, you make a good point there. Are you gonna kiss when the parade ends?

Spectator: We sure are. This is the best honeymoon a girl like me could ever ask for.

Hoda: Well, congrats on getting married and enjoy the parade!

Spectators: Thank you!

Hoda: Oh, these guys want my attention next. Hi guys! Where did you come from to watch the parade?

Spectator: We're representing Atlanta baby!

Spectators: WOOOOOO!

Hoda: Nothing quite like meeting new friends from Atlanta, Georgia. What are you guys excited to see?

Spectator: Well, one of my friends in in the Jonesboro High School Band, so I'm surprising her by showing up to the parade!

Hoda: Well, that's definitely gonna be a surprise she won't forget! Enjoy the show guys!

Spectator: Bye!

Hoda: Those Atlanta teens sure have a lot of energy. They really wanted to get on TV and they finally did. Hey, you guys are awesome! Nice meeting you! Hi guys! Where are you guys from?

Spectators: We're from the Philippines!

Spectators: Aww, thank you!

Hoda: You're welcome! Are you guys excited to see the Filipino band?

Spectators: Yeah!

Spectator: I got these flowers for my friend. She's in the Holy Rosary Band.

Hoda: That's so nice of you! Enjoy the parade guys! Bye!

Spectators: Bye!

Hoda: Alright, these two look like they want to be on TV so we're shining the spotlight on them. Hi! Where are you from?

Spectator: Well, I'm from Inglewood, California, and my boyfriend's from San Diego, and we're both university students.

Hoda: What university do you go to?

Spectator: We go to California State University Long Beach.

Hoda: I know that place. It's in Long Beach, California, right?

Spectator: Of course it's in Long Beach, where else would it be?

Hoda: Oh, I knew it was in Long Beach, I was just joking around.

Spectator: \*Laughs\* You got me.

Hoda: Okay, have you seen the parade in person before?

Spectator: No, we've never seen the parade in person before, but my boyfriend surprised me by taking me to Toronto so we can watch it. We got here on a plane.

Hoda: Wow, what a treat! Have fun at the parade guys!

Spectators: Thanks, you too!

Hoda: How about you guys? Where are you from?

Spectators: We're from North Richland Hills, Texas!

Spectator: One of my buddies is an Upside-Down Clown so keep an eye out for him, okay?

Hoda: Alright, I'll keep an eye out for him! Have fun guys! Hey there! Where are you from?

Spectator: I'm from Omaha, Nebraska.

Hoda: Omaha, Nebraska! Alright so- wait do you wanna say something?

Spectator: Yes.

Hoda: Okay, what do you wanna say?

Spectator: Can you help me propose to my girlfriend?

Crowd: \*Gasp\*

Hoda: Okay then. Before you do this, think this through! Alright, let's hear it!

Spectator: Will you marry me?

Spectator: Yes!

Crowd: \*Cheering\*

Hoda: This is the saddest thing I've ever seen. Congratulations on your marriage you two! Enjoy the parade! Hi there! Where are you from?

Spectator: I'm from Brooklyn, New York!

Hoda: Alright, I've got a tricky question, who are you excited to see?

Spectator: Well, I'm excited to see you Hoda! I watch you every day on the Today Show!

Hoda: Oh, you're a dedicated fan! Thanks, I appreciate it.

Spectator: You're welcome. Have fun!

Hoda: Okay, bye! Oh my gosh, that lady from Brooklyn just made my day. Well, everyone is hyped for the parade, so now we're gonna play a clip that really shows you that the Santa Claus Parade is the parade that unites the world.

## Spectator Greetings

Hi, we're from Toronto, and we love the Santa Claus Parade!

Greetings to our family watching from Santa Rosa City! In the Philippines!

Merry Christmas, Chestermere, Alberta!

Season's Greetings! From Charleston, South Carolina!

We're from Pasadena, Texas, and we're on a girls' trip!

Merry Christmas to my family in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia!

Basel, Switzerland in the house!

We're from Hamilton, Ontario, celebrating with our family from Pakistan!

Happy birthday to our grandma watching from Auburn, New York!

Hi to our family watching in Benin, Nigeria!

Visiting our Canadian cousins from Cambridge, England!

Greetings from York, Pennsylvania! Our son is in the Penn State University Marching Band! WE ARE! PENN STATE!

Happy Holidays, Melbourne, Australia!

Greetings from Panama! WOOOOO!

Hi to my grandparents! Watching in Pomona, California!

From Sarnia, Ontario! and Port Huron, Michigan!

We're visiting our cousins! From Tripoli, Lebanon!

Feliz Navidad from Medellín, Colombia!

St. Catherine's, Ontario!

And Portland, Maine!

Grants Pass, Oregon in the house! Good luck to our son in the Grants Pass High School Marching Band!

Merry Christmas to Zagreb, Croatia!

On a girls' trip! To celebrate my birthday! From Markham, Ontario!

Feliz Navidad from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico!

Visiting from Charleston, West Virginia!

Cincinnati, Ohio!

Vancouver, BC!

Rockwood, Michigan!

Dublin, Ireland!

Jacksonville, Florida!

And Mississauga, Ontario!

As much as we love the parade in our hometown, nothing beats TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade! Merry Christmas to our friends and family watching in Stamford, Connecticut!

Merry Christmas to Abbotsford, BC! Today's our anniversary, and we took our kids with us!

Merry Christmas to our friends watching in Shanghai, China!

It's our first time in Toronto! From Roanoke, Virginia!

We're from Vaughan, Ontario! It's our first time watching the parade live!

We may live in Moline, Illinois, but nothing beats Toronto!

We're from Toronto, and we love coming to the Santa Claus Parade!

READY FOR THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE! WOOOOOOOOO!

## The Santa Claus Parade Experience

Savannah: Wasn't that nice? That montage you just saw is something you're gonna see a lot of later on in the broadcast. Anyway, back on track, every year, we get millions of spectators that all fly in from around the world. 2018 marked the start of our first-ever touring stop that is touring everywhere around the world. It's called the Santa Claus Parade Experience, and it gives all of our parade fans a chance to learn about the history of the parade, design their own floats, and try out everything that we do here in Toronto in their city. We just finished touring a few weeks ago, with our last stop being right here in Downtown Toronto. I wanted to know what it was like at one of these special events, so I came along for the ride, and lemme tell ya, it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. A full video of me touring the world is up on the parade's YouTube channel, so feel free to check it out. We also have a full playlist of Santa Claus Parade Experience videos so feel free to check that out too. By the way, Ken, did I tell you that we're already planning our next tour?

Ken: No, you didn't! Tell me about it.

Savannah: Okay, so we will once again be touring the world in 2024. However, this time we'll have 115 teams in various different regions of the world. This is all for a good cause too, because every dollar that we receive will be donated to fundraisers in and for poor countries. We know that there's children and families in need around the world, and by doing this, we'll help them by having all the money go straight to those fundraisers. If you want to show how much you care about people in need, use #TheParadeCares. Of course, you don't have to donate at the events. We accept donations at any time.

Ken: That's so nice. It's great that the parade cares about those in need and is always willing to do anything to make them happy. Well, the parade is almost here, so we'd like you to grab some hot chocolate and cozy up, because the parade is about to begin, and to everyone watching around the world, we hope you'll all enjoy this commercial-free coverage of the 2023 Santa Claus Parade. That's right. For the first time since the 1970's, we won't be showing any commercials or anything in between the broadcast. We'll just show you everything with no interruptions.

Savannah: It's also important to note that this is the first commercial-free parade broadcast that's over 30 minutes! This whole broadcast is over 3 hours, and this is the first long broadcast to not have any interruptions, which is a nice change because we all know how many people hate commercials.

Ken: Well, if KTLA5 and HGTV can do commercial-free broadcasts of the Rose Parade, we can do commercial-free broadcasts of this parade, and that's exactly what we're gonna do.

## We're On TV!

Ken: Savannah, did I mention that the company behind the parade rebranded with the parade itself this year? The company is now called Santa Claus Parade Studios, and not only do they work on the parade, but they also work on a new TV series that premiered in September of this year! You want me to tell you about it?

Savannah: Sure, go ahead!

Ken: Alright, so if you're over the age of 13, you'll love my new late-night talk show, Ken's Parade Hour, where I talk about current news and events related to parades in a comedic way. That way I can be three things I've always wanted to be; a late-night show host, a comedian, and a ventriloquist, because if you watched last year's broadcast, you'd know that I've officially mastered the art of ventriloquism. I love my new job. It's way better than being a newscaster.

Savannah: Well, congrats on your new job, Ken! Alright, the parade's gonna get here in a few more minutes...

Ken: Well, let's look at these excited fans.

Savannah: Ken, I think you might wanna read what this guy's shirt says.

Ken: I never miss a Santa Claus Parade with Ken. Oh, that's so nice.

Savannah: He's probably looking for you down there!

Ken: Oh, I bet he is! Hi kids, how ya doin'?

Savannah: I'm pretty sure there's some people giving out red noses down there. You can't tell from this wide shot, but for all you international viewers, we are on Front Street West, what we like to call the VIP area. This is where we film the parade every year, and in case you didn't know, this is one of two Santa Claus Parades held in Toronto. Earlier today was the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, which is the daytime parade, and the parade you're watching right now is the nightime parade, TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade. There are many differences between the two parades. For starters, the Toronto Santa Claus Parade is just for Canadians, but this parade is for the whole world. This parade is also bigger with more floats and bands.

Ken: Y'know, you have to appreciate all of these people saying "Y'know what, I'm gonna get out of my pyjamas, have my breakfast, put a coat on, drive or fly to Toronto depending on how far you are from it, and watch the parade." And they do it for a reason, and of course, everyone has different reasons. Some come to the parade because it's a family tradition, others come because one of their friends or family members is in a marching band, and others just come simply because they love the parade.

Savannah: We've also got some cadets giving red noses out to the kids, and I believe there's a mail truck with people collecting letters to Santa as well.

Ken: Well, you gotta mail those in before it's too late. By the way, I went to the grocery store and bought us some popcorn so we have something to eat as the parade passes by.

Savannah: Aww, you didn't have to! Thank you so much!

## Spectator Interviews

Well, as we continue to wait for the parade's big arrival, let's see what Hoda's up to down on the streets.

Hoda: Well Savannah, the energy here is out of this world! We've got so many spectators behind me, we've also got some doing fun activities so they won't get bored, and of course, we've even got the giant inflatables all blown up in the background. It's gonna be an exciting parade, so while we wait, let's talk to a few more people, but I believe the parade is almost here. we've got people giving out balloons, the red nose cadets have past us now, but we do have some excited spectators here, including this little girl right here. Hi, where are you from?

Spectator: Markham.

Hoda: Markham, Ontario?

Spectator: Yeah.

Hoda: Have you mailed your letter to Santa yet?

Spectator: Yeah, I gave my letter to the mailbox people.

Hoda: Well, enjoy the parade! How cute was that? Oh boy, these teenagers are trying to get my attention. Where are you guys from?

Spectator: We're from Vaughan, Ontario.

Hoda: Have you guys gone to Canada's Wonderland?

Spectators: Yeah!

Spectator: Leviathan's the best ride.

Spectator: No, it's Yukon!

Spectator: Yeah, Yukon's the best one!

Spectator: You're literally hanging off the track!

Hoda: Well, I'm gonna stay out of this friendly argument, so enjoy the parade I guess. We've got some little girls here, hi girls, where are you from?

Spectators: We're from Vaughan, Ontario!

Hoda: Oh, you girls are from Vaughan too! Are you excited?

Spectators: Yeah!

Spectator: We can't wait to see the floats!

Spectator: We love the floats!

Hoda: Well, have fun you two! Oh, look at this lady in her ugly sweater! How are you?

Spectator: Good.

Hoda: Well, listen, your sweater is hilarious! Where are you from?

Spectator: I'm from Burlington, Vermont!

Hoda: Well, you have the best sweater out of everyone I've seen today, so you enjoy the parade! Well, look who's here! It's Johnny Strides from right here in Toronto! How are you doing?

Johnny Strides: I'm doing great.

Hoda: Johnny here is a YouTuber, so we're allowed to say his name. Are you streaming the parade on YouTube?

Johnny: I sure am. I also streamed the daytime parade and walked the entire parade route.

Hoda: Well, good luck capturing it all on camera! Have a nice day!

Hoda: Oh my gosh, we've got a whole elementary school here! How are you guys?

Spectators: Good!

Hoda: Listen, I don't want you to tell me what school you're from, but can you at least tell me where your school is located?

Spectator: We come from Brisbane, Australia.

Hoda: What grade are you in?

Spectator: We're in Grade 7. This is our class trip.

Hoda: Are you guys excited for the parade?

Spectators: Yeah!

Hoda: Well, have fun kids! Hi! Where are you from?

Spectators: Villa Gonzalez, República Dominicana!

Hoda: That's Spanish for the Dominican Republic, right?

Spectators: Yeah.

Hoda: Are you excited for the parade?

Spectators: Yeah!

Spectator: How much longer until the parade gets here?

Hoda: Not long now, I think I hear some sirens. Have fun guys! Well, there's some police officers moving everyone out of the way, so that could be a sign of the parade getting closer! Everyone's going back to the sidelines, police officers are making sure the path is clear for the parade's big arrival, and there's even a golf cart right behind the police officers! Savannah and Ken, I think the parade is about to begin!

## THE PARADE IS HERE!

Savannah: Y'know Hoda, I think you might be right. Actually, you are right, because the parade has officially arrived! Hit it!

Ken: Well Savannah, it looks like it's time to get this show on the road! It's time for parade #58!

Savannah: That's how many parades we've done in case you're confused. Get ready for a spectacle a year in the making with 53 fantastic floats, 40 of the best marching bands from around the world, hundreds of colourful characters and clowns, and the grand arrival of Santa Claus himself, along with his wife Mrs. Claus. We've got everything marching your way in this commercial-free coverage seen by billions of parade lovers around the world, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the 2023 Santa Claus Parade!

Ken: In perfect formation, heralding the parade's arrival is the elite motorcycle brigade of the Toronto Police Department. For nearly 40 years, this loud and proud fleet of officers have been the tip of the parade's spear, and listen to those sirens! They signal the arrival of the largest holiday celebration in the entire world!

Savannah: Always following the motorcycles, here comes the Toronto Police Mounted Unit. These horseback riders have had a long history with this parade, and kids in Toronto love petting these horses as they stand on patrol in the parks. These horses do a great job at making sure the city is in good hands, and they're used in competitions too! And following just behind the heels, or should I say the hooves of these mighty mustangs is the Santa Claus Parade colour guard, comprised of 210 marchers carrying the flags of all 195 nations around the world, along with a few flags of non-countries, the flag of the city of Toronto, the pride flag, and of course, the flag of the Santa Claus Parade. At the front of the colour party is the Canadian flag, alongside the Israeli and Palestinian flags to honour those who died in the ongoing war. And to all of our viewers watching from home, see if you can spot the flag of your country.

Ken: Seeing your flag really makes you feel proud of your heritage, doesn't it, Savannah?

Savannah: Oh, it sure does! By the way, as a proud Australian-American it does my heart good to see the Australian flag in there.

## The Parade Express

Ken: Now here's when things really get cookin', because our first float has arrived!

Savannah: Oh boy Ken, are you ready for this? Here's the first of 45 floats in the 2023 Santa Claus Parade, and much like a large majority of the floats in this year's parade, it's brand-new! All aboard the Parade Express! This steam locomotive is kicking off the parade in a big way, literally! This was one of the floats that everyone was looking forward to seeing, and it's a record-breaker, Ken. There are four different floats all connected into one big float, and get this, the entire float is 200 feet long, making this the longest float in the parade's history!

Ken: That's impressive! I can hear the whistle blowing, the horn blaring, and I can see the steam coming out of the funnel! Like you said, this is four floats in one. The first float is the locomotive, which is at the front of every train, and it is also where the driver sits. By the way, we should mention that this float, along with many other floats in today's parade, are self-propelled, meaning they aren't pulled by a car, but rather, the driver is hidden inside the float, and the driver of this float is hidden in the locomotive.

Savannah: The second part of the train is a car that welcomes everyone to the parade. After that is a car filled with fireworks, and I believe there's some firework going off right now- oh, there they go!

Ken: What a beauty! That oughta get the crowd pumped! And of course, at the back of the train is a bright red caboose, which says something that we hope everyone is doing right now, "enjoy the show!"

Savannah: Y'know, because this float is so long, we were a bit concerned about how it would do when turning the streets, but here it seems to be doing just fine, and that's all that matters.

Ken: What a way to kick off the parade! Also, riding on the train are all of the wonderful directors, float designers, float builders, and everyone else that is in charge of making this parade possible, and we just wanna say thank you to everyone at Santa Claus Parade Studios for making the magic happen.

Savannah: Looks like we got the pyrotechnics going off, look at that!

Ken: Oh, look at those fireworks!

Savannah: This float has a 20-second fireworks show that goes off at certain points of the parade route, and this is one of those spots.

Ken: Those fireworks are very mesmerizing, don't you think?

Savannah: Yeah, they're mesmerizing alright. The engineer for this float, by the way, not the driver, but the engineer, is one of the parade's many float designers. They're all riding on this float, but the one that's dressed as the engineer has been designing floats for this parade for 50 years, and this is the first time she's ever ridden on one of her floats.

Ken: Well, good for her. The designers are talented people, but not quite as talented as you, Savannah.

Savannah: Oh, stop. You're too kind.

## University Of Southern California Trojan Marching Band

Savannah: Sound the trumpets, because our first band has arrived!

Ken: You bet, Savannah! They are the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band from the sunny city of Los Angeles, California! And look, they've brought Tommy Trojan and his trusty horse Traveler with them. Wow, that is one beautiful bronco, I'm tellin' ya.

Savannah: The Trojan Marching Band, also known as the Spirit of Troy, under the direction of Dr. Jacob Vogel, is one of the most famous marching bands in the world, and this is their sixth march through Toronto in the parade. In addition to performing at parades and USC football games, the band has also made many appearances in film and television.

Ken: Really?

Savannah: Yes, they've made appearances in films like Forrest Gump and TV shows like Scrubs, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Masked Singer USA.

Ken: Oh my gosh, look, they've even wearing sunglasses! When was the last time you saw someone wear sunglasses at night? They must've been listening to a lot of Corey Hart recently!

Savannah: Well, they're from LA, so they gotta come with the shades.

Ken: Well, I guess that explains their nickname, are you ready for this? Their nickname is... The Greatest Marching Band In The History Of The Universe, Ever.

Savannah and Ken: \*Laughing\*

Savannah: I was not prepared for that.

## Florida A&M University Marching 100

Savannah: Well, it looks like we've got another band making their way down the line. Over to you Hoda.

Hoda: Wow, guys, talk about a transition! That last band we saw was from the West Coast, and now we've got a band from the East Coast! I'm talkin' Tallahassee, Florida! Make way for the mighty marchers of the Florida A&M University Marching 100! This energized, synchronized, high-stepping HBCU band under the direction of Dr. Shelby R. Chipman is one of the best in the business. This big band comes with a big sound, and that big sound is being made by all 420 members of the Marchingest, Playingest Band in the Land. The Marching 100 has performed at the Honda Battle of the Bands, they've marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade, they've made countless appearances at the Super Bowl, and they've made appearances on shows like College GameDay. These guys and gals do it all. As they say, they're more than a marching band and an ensemble, they are role models of excellence. We are honoured to have them back in Toronto for their sixth Santa Claus Parade.

FAMU Band: LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Hoda: Oh my gosh, they're even doing a dance break! How about that? Makes me wanna get up on my feet and dance with them!

## Wound-Up Music Makers

Savannah: How about that dance break? That was incredible!

Ken: They just blew me away. Thank you to the Florida A&M University Marching 100 for that outstanding performance!

Savannah: Ken, I don't think you're ready for what's coming next.

Ken: Woah! Of all the things I was expecting to see in this parade, giant wind-up toys weren't on my bingo card, but I'm impressed at how amazing these ones turned out!

Savannah: This trio of merry marchers calls themselves the Wound-Up Music Makers, and in case you can't tell, they are huge hits with everyone watching.

Ken: There's a bear, a monkey and a dog all marching down the parade route, playing their instruments, and wait, what are they doing?

Savannah: Wow, they're moving in a circle!

Ken: Oh my goodness, this is only the third float we've seen tonight and it's already one of my favourites. And I was not expecting them to march in a circle, but I will admit, that was pretty cool if I do say so myself.

Savannah: Let's just hope that their keys don't stop turning because we don't want them to be tired!

Ken: Savannah, you might wanna cover your nose.

Savannah: Why? Is it because of those skunks following the float?

Ken: How are you so good at this?

Savannah: I've got experience.

## The Cavaliers Drum Corps

Ken: Well, this year, we have 40 bands, and one group of bands that has stuck with the parade since its inaugural year is drum and bugle corps, and here comes the first of three drum corps marching in tonight's parade.

Savannah: From Rosemont, Illinois, a village that's 35 minutes northwest of Chicago, making their grand return to the parade for the first time since 2006, please welcome the Cavaliers!

Ken: 2023 marks the Cavaliers' 75th anniversary, and the corps of brothers is back with us for their fifth year in the parade in celebration of 75 years of marching.

Savannah: The Cavaliers are seven-time Drum Corps International world champions, and they are the only all-male corps in the United States that is still active. Michael Vaughn is their director, and as always, they sound amazing.

Ken: Hey guys, SPLOOIE! I don't know what that means, but I guess it's a word the Cavies use to hype everyone up.

Savannah: I was gonna say, what in the world are you talking about, Mr. Ken Shaw?

Ken: \*Laughs\*

## Christina The Toy Cricket

Savannah: Say hello to Christina the Toy Cricket. She's a larger-than-life recreation of a cricket pull toy made in the 1960's.

Ken: Who says girls don't look good in tuxedos? Christina's showing everyone that girls can be dapper too in her snazzy suit. Her legs are actually attached to her back wheels to make her look as if her legs are actually making her walk.

Savannah: I think she looks very nice. I love that this parade encourages everyone to expect the unexpected, and this is something that you certainly wouldn't expect to see in a parade.

Ken: Well, judging by the reaction she's getting from the crowd, it looks like Christina's already a crowd favourite. And right behind her are some butterflies, and I just found out that a group of butterflies is actually called a kaleidoscope.

Savannah: I didn't know that!

## Imagination Circuit

Start your engines! Here comes a fleet of race car drivers, ready to zoom past every racing fan they see.

Ken: In addition to plenty of new additions, TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade also brings back a couple of the most popular floats from last year's parade so people can get a second chance to see them, and this is one of them. This float is called Imagination Circuit, and it depicts a toy race track with two toy race cars driving around on the track. And if you're wondering how they move, there's a motor hidden underneath the cars and inside the track that whips the cars around.

Savannah: It's a duel between the red car and the blue car! I've seen NASCAR and Formula 1, but this is the closest thing we're ever gonna get to both of those in this parade. Who you got, the red car or the blue car?

Ken: I'd have to say the red car.

Savannah: Well, I've got some bad for news for you, I'm on team blue.

Ken: Oh, it's on, Savannah.

Savannah \*Laughing\* Also, you're seeing the toy all set up, but the base of this float is actually designed to look like the race track's box, which is really cool! It's always fun to point out all of the little details and touches. It's great to see this float again so everyone has a second chance of seeing it.

Ken: Me too, I love they they brought this float back. These construction workers took a day off to be with us, and they're followed by some more upside-down clowns, and these clowns come from the youngster variety because of their young faces.

## Taipei First Girls High School Marching Band

Savannah: All the way from Taiwan, the Taipei First Girls High School Marching Band returns to TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade for their second appearance. This is their first time in the parade since their parade debut back in 2005. Organized in 1959, the First Girls Marching Band is made up of 125 members in three separate units; The band, the colour guard and the honour guard with their white rifles. They've marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade, and they've also performed around the world. Some of their past performance stops include China, Singapore, South Africa, Austria and France.

Ken: Y'know, I just realized, the last band we saw was an all-male band, and now we have an all-female band!

Savannah: That's a good way to change things up, don't you think?

Ken: Look at them playing to the crowd, everyone loves them, including us! You go, girls!

## Disney's Wish

Savannah: Here are some new costumes, introducing the Four Seasons Fairies! Meet Petal the Spring Fairy, Sandy the Summer Fairy, Autumn the Fall Fairy and Crystal the Winter Fairy. No matter what the season is, this quartet is always ready to celebrate it.

Looks like we're seeing stars! Stars on parade, that is! These stars shine bright as they light up the night.

Well, here's a special float promoting the newest film from the imaginative movie makers at Disney, who just turned 100 years old this year! This float is a recreation of their new film Wish, which actually comes out in just a couple days from now!

Ken: This float is not suitable for some audiences, so if you want, you can just talk amongst yourselves until the float passes by.

Savannah: Not a lot of parades give viewers a heads-up, so it's a good thing we have you to let them know what's coming.

Ken: Well, of course I know what's coming, I've done this parade for years.

Savannah: \*Laughs\* Anyway, Wish is about a young girl named Asha, who lives in a magical kingdom of dreams and wishes. One day, Asha makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by Star, a wishing star with boundless energy. Together, Asha and Star must protect their kingdom from the evil King Magnifico to prove that wondrous things can happen when you wish upon a star.

Ken: Savannah, the first time I saw this float, I was blown away by it. All of the twinkling lights look beautiful, I love Asha's amination with her being surrounded by wishing stars, and I even love Star circling around the castle.

Savannah: Isn't he adorable?

Ken: Oh, he's beyond adorable.

Savannah: I'm sure everyone agrees with you, Ken.

Ken: Happy 100th birthday, Disney.

Savannah: These princesses look so regal in their bright pink gowns! Let's hope they're careful, because those dragons think they're hot!

## Delfines Marching Band

Ken: Kids, if you don't understand that joke, go ask your parents. Okay, up next, representing their home country of Mexico, the Delfines Marching Band makes its way down the line with their great sounds.

Savannah: This mighty band from Xalapa, Veracruz, led by director Jesus Emmanuel Mendoza, is the most famous marching band in all of Mexico. This band is comprised of 100 student musicians from Manuel R. Gutierrez Secondary School in Xalapa, decked out in traditional Mexican charro uniforms.

Ken: I'm glad you said that and not me, I would've butchered those words. This band has performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade, and they've also performed in competitions around the world, including Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. They were founded in 1999, and this is their third year in the parade. They were in the 2006 Santa Claus Parade as well as the 2015 Parade.

Savannah: Ken, did you know that Delfine is actually Spanish for Dolphin?

Ken: I did not know that. This band is amazing. The music they're playing makes me feel like I'm at a Mexican fiesta.

Savannah: Me too, it makes me wanna join those dancers! Thanks for coming back guys! Feliz Navidad!

## Whack-A-Mole

When they're not running around Ontario forests, these coyotes are known for sending out the call of the wild.

Ken: And they're followed by a pack of foxes! You'd have to be pretty clever to outfox them.

Picture this: You just woke up in the morning, and you take a peek outside, only to realize that there's a giant coyote with hammers in his hands. That's what this next float, Whack-A-Mole, is all about. These moles can't even take a break, because that coyote is armed and dangerous!

Savannah: OH. MY. GOSH. If chaos was a parade float, this would be it. Look at those moles popping in and out of their underground tunnel system! Hey, you guys better stop acting like cowards, there's literally a coyote about to bop you with two hammers!

Ken: If I were you I'd set off an alarm.

Savannah: One of the moles is even making a nana nana boo boo face.

Ken: Hey buddy, taunting isn't gonna help you out! Making a run for it isn't hard at all!

Savannah: Or, y'know, they could also hide.

Ken: Oh, good point. Well, you know what they say. Just do whatever ruffles your truffles. Unless there's a coyote waiting for you, that is.

And while we're on the topic of cowardly critters, here's some mice and bunnies. Those bunnies must've been enjoying all the music we've heard tonight so far.

Savannah: What's their favourite genre of music?

Ken: Oh Savannah, you know this one, it's Hip-Hop!

Savannah: I don't know how you're so good at this, Ken.

## Behind the Scenes with the Avon High School Marching Black & Gold

Savannah: The bands that you see in this parade are the best of the best, and this truly one of the best high school marching bands in the United States. Here is a behind the scenes look at how the Avon High School Marching Black & Gold made it to Toronto.

(Clips from the Avon Marching Black & Gold's 2023 competition performance at various competitions)

Matt Harloff: My name is Matt Harloff, and I'm the director of the Avon High School Marching Black & Gold from Avon, Indiana.

Matt (Archived footage from rehearsal): Okay, we're gonna run this once, so don't mess up, okay? One, two, one, two, bar 9.

Matt: We work with amazing students that love marching and love being in the band, and we work extra hard to make sure everything sounds just right.

Bands of America Announcer: In first place, and our 2023 Bands of America Grand National Champion, first place with a score of 97.475, the Avon High School Marching Band!

Matt: Becoming the top marching band in the country is a huge accomplishment, and so many of our members were crying tears of joy when the announcer said we won.

TCCSCP Band Department Head: We are excited to announce that all of you will represent your school, your city, and the state of Indiana as you perform in a parade... That's north of the border.

Band members: \*Screaming\*

Band Department Head: That's right, the Avon Marching Black & Gold will be performing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 2023 TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade!

Band members: \*Screaming and cheering with excitement\*

Matt: Being in a parade seen by millions is just... Incredible. Our students couldn't be any happier as soon as he said "North of the border".

Band member: I'm really excited to be in the Parade because all my friends and family will be watching me.

Band member: The fact that we're gonna be seen by the whole world is mind-blowing. Not just by the people who show up, but by the entire world.

Band member: We're gonna be world-famous, and I can't wait.

Matt: We've been preparing for this parade for weeks, going over every repertoire piece we're gonna play as we march down the route, practicing our marching, this is gonna be an experience I won't forget, and all of students will never forget this experience either.

Band members: TORONTO, HERE WE COME! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

## Avon High School Marching Black & Gold

Savannah: And here they are now. From Avon, Indiana, we are honoured to have the reigning Bands of America Grand National Champions, the Avon High School Marching Black & Gold!

Ken: You just heard from director Matt Harloff and tonight he's marching with all of his amazing students. This year, the Black & Gold became Grand National champions, as well as state champions, as they also placed first in the 2023 ISSMA Marching Band Class A State Finals. In 2024, the band will also march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, but it's gonna be a while before that happens, so for now, let's enjoy their performance in tonight's parade.

Savannah: Don't they sound great?

Ken: Are you kidding? They sound incredible!

Savannah: Well, that's how you become champions. Avon High School offers a wide variety of instrumental music programs. The Marching Black & Gold is their largest, but they also offer students in many other programs, including winter guard, indoor percussion, indoor winds, they also have a concert band, saxophone ensemble, brass choir and jazz band.

## Olivia The Ocelot

Savannah: Here is Olivia the Ocelot. She's a self-propelled ocelot who's prowling her way down the parade. She's one of the most detailed floats in this parade, covered in spots as she heads down the parade route. Olivia is an ocelot, which is a species of cat native to North, Central and South America.

Ken: I did some research on ocelots, and it turns out their native range extends from South Texas to Northern Argentina! Ocelots have one of the most beautiful fur coats in both the cat family and the world. Like all small cats, ocelots have great hearing and night vision. They're nocturnal, which means they are most active at night. In fact, it's as easy for an ocelot to walk around at night as it is for humans like us to walk during the day.

Savannah: Fascinating, I also found out that their eyes have a layer that reflects light, so ocelots can see much better in the dark than humans can.

Ken: Well, I guess Olivia probably has the route memorized because this parade is a nighttime parade!

Savannah: From small cats to big cats, here's some tigers who are on the hunt, just like Olivia.

## Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band

Ken: We're not done with tigers yet though. Proudly marching down through Toronto is the Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Directors Simon Holoweiko and Weston Lewis lead their 325 musicians on their third march down the parade route. This Sudler Trophy-winning and Grammy-nominated band, also referred to by their nickname, the Golden Band from Tigerland, is one of the largest organizations at LSU, and they perform at every LSU home football game. The Golden Band has also marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Savannah: Listen to that sound!

Ken: WOW.

Savannah: I'm speechless, I don't know what to say, this band is SO GOOD.

Ken: You can say that again! Did you know that 75% of the members in this band don't have music majors?

Savannah: Really?

Ken: Yes, it's true, a lot of the members study in degree programs across the campus.

## Orkiestra Grandioso Radom

Savannah: Making their first appearance in the Santa Claus Parade all the way from Poland, here's Orkiestra Grandioso Radom. Look how good that majorette is!

Ken: Wow, she caught it! That's amazing. They are a youth marching band that also performs in concerts in addition to international marching band competitions. They also have one-of-a-kind uniforms that they're sporting as they head down the parade route.

Savannah: I'm sure the entire nation of Poland is proud of them for making it onto international television. They're representing their country proud as they play traditional marches.

## Texas Southern University Ocean Of Soul

Ken: Up next is the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul. this award-winning HBCU band from Houston, Texas was organized in 1945, and they've had many ups and downs, but one thing's for sure, they know how to keep a crowd energized.

Savannah: Their nickname, the Ocean of Soul, was given to the band in 1969 by a local radio show. Don't they sound amazing?

Ken: Yes they do, and they've come a long way from their past struggles. This is their fourth appearance in the parade, the last time we saw them was 10 years ago.

## Silas The Skunk

Well, let's see what Hoda is up to. I think she's telling us that we have to cover our noses because of what's coming up next.

Hoda: Guys, I'm down on the street, and look what's coming my way! A giant green skunk! AAHHH! This is Silas, a giant skunk who's actually the first float in the parade's history that's walking backwards rather than forwards! That may sound impressive and all, until you see what he's about to do. Everyone, cover your nose!

\*Silas farts\*

P-U! Well, I'm down with some kids right now, can you tell me where you're from?

Spectator: I'm from Winchester, Virginia.

Spectator: And I'm from Richmond Hill, Ontario!

Hoda: Listen girls, how do you feel about Silas spraying his gas everywhere?

Spectator: It's disgusting!

Hoda: \*Laughs\* Well, what do you think he should do to stop farting?

Spectator: Take a pill? I don't know.

Hoda: \*Laughs\* You girls are too funny. Alright, while we figure out how to stop that skunk, let's throw it back to Savannah and Ken.

Savannah: Thanks Hoda. Silas isn't the only stinker here, there's a whole pack of skunks right behind him!

Ken: Y'know, a lot of animals ask skunks for advice because they're full of common scents.

Savannah: You crack me up.

Ken: Thanks, even I'm proud of my jokes, usually a comedian would say, "I stink at this!"

Savannah: Let's hold off on the puns, because I think I see another float odor there!

Ken: Oh, so we're just gonna keep going?

Savannah: No, I couldn't resist saying that.

Ken: Figures.

## Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Savannah: Here comes the Flower Queen and her elegant escorts decked out in petal dresses. It may not be spring, but they're blossoming just for us!

Ken: You think those elephants will accidentally stomp on them?

Savannah: I don't think so, because it looks like the Flower Queen's trying to avoid them!

Ken: Listen, if you're into video games, there's a good chance you'd know who this is. \*Imitating Mario\* It's-a me, Mario! Wahoo!

Savannah: Is that your best attempt?

Ken: Hey, it's the best I could do. Mario's setting off on a new adventure in the new game Super Mario Bros Wonder, which is now available for the Nintendo Switch. In that game, Mario embarks on a quest in the Flower Kingdom, where he and his friends from the Mushroom Kingdom team up with Prince Florian to stop the evil Bowser from causing chaos using the Wonder Flower!

Savannah: When you grab a wonder flower, always expect the unexpected, because you'll never know what will happen in every level you run through.

Ken: And there's Mario himself, who's grabbing the Wonder Flower right now!

Savannah: And there's Luigi along with Prince Florian and Princess Peach, all flying over that pipe, which, by the way, is moving like an inchworm!

Ken: What in the world? There's also a stampede of Bulrushes, singing Piranha Plants, talking flowers, and... Wait, Mario can turn into an ELEPHANT? \*Imitating Mario\* WOWIE ZOWIE!

Savannah: \*Laughing\*

Ken: Yes, that's what everyone says whenever they turn into an elephant.

Savannah: I was gonna say, I have no idea what you're talking about...

Ken: But the weirdness doesn't end there, there's a talking flower talking to everyone!

Savannah: Hey Hoda, can you tell us what's on his mind?

Hoda: Guys, I'm down here with a Talking Flower, I wish I was making this up but I'm not. How are ya doing?

Talking Flower: I'm doing great!

Hoda: Where are you from?

Talking Flower: The Flower Kingdom!

Hoda: Oh right, because it wouldn't make sense if you were from somewhere else. Do you wanna say something to everyone watching?

Talking Flower: Yes, I wanna say something to everyone that is watching the parade: BOWSER'S COMING! RUN WHILE YOU CAN! PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM HIS ARMY OF KOOPAS!

Hoda: Not what I had in mind, but I'm sure everyone will remember that. Bye!

## Toho High School Marching Band

Ken: \*Laughing\*

Savannah: Were you ready for that?

Ken: No, I wasn't.

Savannah: Well, our next band is one that so many people have been waiting for, all the way from Japan, please welcome the Toho Marching Band! They are led by director Mineto Shiraya, and this is their first appearance in TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade!

Ken: Japanese marching bands are known for their high energy and spectacular choreography, and this group is no exception. Look, they're walking backwards!

Savannah: Woah!

Ken: And they're doing it while playing Holiday by Green Day!

Savannah: Look how happy they are, they love being here, welcome to Toronto, guys!

Did you know that Japanese marching bands are mostly made up of girls?

Ken: Wow, and I wouldn't be surprised if all of the girls in this band were inspired by the Kyoto Tachibana Marching Band, they're a world-famous high school band from Japan, and almost the entire band is female!

Savannah: Wow, that is incredible! Thanks for coming to Toronto, Toho Marching Band!

Ken: You go girls! And a handful of guys!

Well, I heard that one of the most anticipated floats in this year's parade is coming up, and Hoda's gonna give us more info on that float when we see it, but for now, let's enjoy... the Toho Marching Band.

Savannah: Oh my gosh look at them go!

Ken: Wow, this band is blowing my mind. And they're all in perfect step!

Savannah: Listen to that crowd, they love it!

Alright, we're gonna go over to Hoda who's gonna tell us about our next float, which we can see in the distance over there!

## Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Hoda: Listen guys, I'm here with a large group of teenage girls. But they aren't your average teenage girls. They're Swifties!

Swifties: \*Screaming\*

Hoda: If you don't know what Swifties are, they're another name for Taylor Swift fans, and you guys are here for one reason and one reason only, right?

Swifties: YEAH!

Hoda: What's that?

Swifties: WE WANNA SEE THE TAYLOR SWIFT FLOAT! \*Screaming\* TAYLOR! TAYLOR! TAYLOR! TAYLOR! TAYLOR!

Hoda: Well, you won't have to wait any longer, because here it comes!

Swifties: \*Screaming\*

Hoda: That's right! Swifties, this is your moment! For the first time ever, Taylor Swift has her own float in TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade, and this float is promoting her ongoing Eras Tour, which is currently touring around the world, and she'll be performing right here in Toronto in November of 2024! This float is also promoting the new Eras Tour movie playing in theatres around the world. The Eras Tour takes fans on a journey through all of Taylor's different eras of her 17-year career. We couldn't get Taylor herself to appear on the float because she's busy, but we do have a giant statue of Taylor performing on this soundstage float, with TV screens showing Taylor's performances from her tour. Hey, can all of you tell me where you're from?

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Vaughan, Ontario!

Swifties: Rochester, New York!

Swifties: Youngstown, Ohio!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Adelaide, Australia!

Swifties: Kyoto, Japan!

Swifties: Kelowna, BC!

Swifties: Halifax, Nova Scotia!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Limón, Costa Rica!

Swifties: Fort Lauderdale, Florida!

Swifties: Windsor, Ontario!

Swifties: Rancho Cucamonga, California!

Swifties: Chattanooga, Tennessee!

Swifties: Munich, Germany!

Swifties: Bangkok, Thailand!

Swifties: San Antonio, Texas!

Swifties: Kitchener, Ontario!

Swifties: Davenport, Iowa!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Markham, Ontario!

Swifties: North York, Ontario!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: White Plains, New York!

Swifties: Los Angeles, California!

Swifties: Edison, New Jersey!

Swifties: Toronto!

Swifties: Liverpool, England!

Swifties: Milton, Ontario!

Swifties: Dublin, Ireland!

Swifties: Fort Wayne, Indiana!

Swifties: Victoria, BC!

Swifties: Burlington, Ontario!

Swifties: Buffalo, New York!

Swifties: Toronto!

Hoda: And what do you think of the float?

Swifties: WE LOVE IT! \*Screaming\*

But that's not all. Even though Taylor's busy, we didn't want to disappoint any of the Swifties watching the parade, so we have a special clip just for them. Roll the clip!

## A Message from Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift: Hi everyone, it's me, Taylor Swift. I hope you guys are enjoying the Santa Claus Parade, and I especially hope that you liked seeing my Eras Tour float. Although I wasn't able to make it to the parade, I just wanted to say hi because I don't want you guys to be disappointed. So, here I am, and I just wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone, no matter what holiday you celebrate at this time of year. And while I wasn't able to come to Toronto this year, I will be performing in Toronto next year, and Toronto's one of my favourite cities to perform in, so I'm really looking forward to next November. Before I go, I wanted to share with you this trailer so you know what to expect when the Eras Tour comes to Toronto. See ya!

(Eras Tour Concert Film Trailer)

## Pop Music

Savannah: Wow, how about that? That was THE Taylor Swift giving all of her Canadian fans a preview of her Eras Tour so they know what to expect when it comes to the Rogers Centre next November. Are you ready for it?

Ken: Savannah, you're gonna love this next group. These are the TV Clowns, and tonight, they decided to show the audience for a change.

Savannah: Talk about opposite day.

Ken: Here's someone who knows what's poppin', it's the Popcorn Queen and her kernel-covered escorts. Makes you think of the movies, doesn't it?

Savannah: It sure does, and so does this next float. It's a giant self-propelled popcorn machine, which is something that has never been done in the parade before, and the name of this float is what else? Pop Music!

Ken: Feast your eyes on this giant popcorn machine, and the popcorn inside the machine is actually popping, and if you look closely, you'll notice that the pot is shaking too!

Savannah: There are also mini ball poppers with white ping pong balls, which are just like popcorn machines. I don't know about you, Ken, but I'd love to take a bite out of that popcorn.

Ken: I'm hungry already!

Savannah: You think there are any popcorn vendors nearby?

Ken: Savannah, we don't need vendors, we have plenty of popcorn bags right here!

Savannah: Oh yeah! Why didn't I think of that?

Ken: This popcorn's delicious!

Savannah: I'd love to see the size of a bag that's full of popcorn that size!

## Bartlett High School Marching Band

Ken: Here's another band that's making their first appearance in this year's Santa Claus Parade. All the way from Bartlett, Tennessee, which is just 17 minutes east of Memphis, here is the Bartlett High School Marching Band!

Savannah: Trevor Rundell leads this band from the Volunteer State. They just came back from winning a Bands of America title in Memphis and competing in Grand Nationals. They also compete annually in the Memphis Bandmasters Championship. Look at how bright those uniforms are. And the drum majors' outfits are extra sparkly for tonight's parade.

Ken: Elvis lived in Memphis, right?

Savannah: Correct, he died in Graceland in 1977.

## Gold Rush

Put on your hard hats and grab your pickaxes, because it's time for a Gold Rush! That's what this next float is all about! These beavers are hitching a ride on giant minecarts. The third minecart has all of the gold that they found when mining.

Ken: Does that mean they're rich?

Savannah: No, in fact, none of us know how much money they have. But they do have a lot of gold!

Ken: I can see that!

Savannah: The beavers' heads turn side to side as their minecrafts roll them down the parade route. With their pickaxes in hand, they're on a search for the shiniest gold in the world! Will they be able to find it? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Ken: Here's some more beavers. How Canadian can you get?

## Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band

Savannah: All the way from Fort Mill, South Carolina, which is 28 minutes south of Charlotte, North Carolina, please welcome the Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band, who is also making their Santa Claus Parade debut. Catawba Ridge High School is a relatively new school that opened four years ago, but these kids are already making history tonight as they march down the streets, none of them had even been to Canada before!

Ken: They may be from a newer school, but they've also won many awards in the past three years. This past marching season, they were Class 4A silver medalists at Bands of America Carolina Regionals and SCBDA finals, the year before that, they were SCBDA 4A Upper Class State Champions and they won their first Bands of America title at Carolina Regionals, and the year before that, they were SCBDA 3A champions, so even though their school is still relatively new, they are one of the top marching bands in the entire state of South Carolina! If that isn't mind-blowing I don't know what is. Their directors are Patrick Butler and David Shives, and they sound great! Ah, who am I kidding? Every band in this parade sounds great!

## Rib-It

Savannah: Leaping their way down the parade route are these frogs, and although they may not be as famous as Kermit, the crowd still still loves them.

Ken: Don't you love barbecues?

Savannah: I do.

Ken: Well, you're gonna love this float. It's called Rib-It.

Savannah: That's a funny name!

Ken: For those of you that don't get the joke, Frogs make croaking sounds which makes them sound like they're saying "Ribbit", and they're cooking barbecue ribs!

Savannah: Oh, I get it!

Ken: This family of frogs are grilling the night away, as dad does the cooking and mom and her daughter enjoy the tasty food.

Savannah: This is a special float because as you can see, the daughter frog is on a wheelchair! This year, the parade is making history, as she is the first float character in the Santa Claus Parade to have a disability. The reason why the float designers put her on a wheelchair is because they want everyone to be included and accepted, and they especially wanted to make sure parade lovers with disabilities are represented in the parade. Remember everyone, don't judge a book by its cover. Everyone wants to be accepted and treated with respect, and inclusivity is something that TheCreativeCanadian's Santa Claus Parade has strong faith in.

## Amanda The Axolotl

Ken: and right behind the Rib-It float, here comes Amanda the Axolotl, a self-propelled axolotl who is swimming down the streets of Toronto tonight. For those who don't know what an axolotl is, it's a critically endangered species of salamander that can only be found in a lake in Mexico.

Savannah: Amanda is one of the only floats that is moving diagonally, meaning she is not moving in a straight line. Rather, she is wiggling from side to side.

Ken: Doesn't she look adorable?

Savannah: She does, I wish I could have my own pet axolotl. Look at her go!

## Rockford High School Marching Band

Ken: Up next is a band that didn't have to travel as far as a lot of the other bands in this parade. Here's the Rockford High School Marching Band from Rockford, Michigan. This band, led by director Brian Phillips, calls the Great Lakes State home, and they're marching in their silver uniforms that they also wore in their 2023 show.

Savannah: The Rockford High School Band is the largest competitive marching band in the state of Michigan, and this is very rare for marching bands, it turns out 40% of the band's student musicians also take part in athletic programs! Isn't that interesting?

Ken: Very interesting. And like you said, it's very rare for a marching band to have that many members also play on their sports teams. But how can they do both at the same time?

Savannah: Well, I'm glad you asked. In order for the students to pursue both activities and academics, they have extremely limited rehearsal time. That means they need to be focused.

Ken: Well, these kids are focused alright! This is the band's third appearance in the Santa Claus Parade. Their first appearance was back in 1986, which was when none of these members were alive, but maybe some of their parents were in the band around that time, because music tends to stay in the family. They later returned in 2019, and here they are once again.

## Barnyard Boogie

Ken: Here's some farmers taking a day off from their regular chores, and behind them are some cows who are getting a moove on!

Savannah: Are you ready for a boot-scootin' good time?

Ken: I'm already hearing voices!

Savannah: Well, you're gonna love this next float, the Barnyard Boogie! This group of barnyard friends is happily making music on their hay wagon. There's a cow on the fiddle, a horse on the bass, a goat plucking her banjo and a pig blowing on his harmonica.

Ken: And it looks like everyone's having a stompin' good time on this float. Really makes you wanna get up and boogie with them.

Savannah: I don't know how the farmer feels about this, because it looks like those animals are going from domestic to wild!

Ken: If I saw this happening, i wouldn't panic at all, I'd join them!

Savannah: Whatever you say, Ken, whatever you say.

Ken: Here's some goats, and I think they speak for everyone when they say that this parade is goated.

Savannah: We've also got some upside-down ducks. I don't know if they can do a handstand in real life, but anything's possible at the Santa Claus Parade! And right behind them are some lizards, who are heralding our next float.

## Leo

Savannah: Look who's coming our way now! For the first time ever, Netflix has a float in the Santa Claus Parade, and crawling through the streets of Toronto all the way from Florida, here he is, it's Leo the lizard!

Ken: Mother of Godzilla, look at the size of him!

Savannah: Leo is a new animated comedy film starring comedian Adam Sandler as the titular character, Leo. He's a 74-year-old lizard who has lived in a cage in his elementary school his whole life, and before he reaches his average life expectancy, he decides he's gonna break free and experience the real world for the first time. You can watch Leo on Netflix now.

Ken: Wow, I never thought I'd see a lizard voiced by Adam Sandler. But wait a second, isn't he experiencing the real world right now?

Savannah: I guess so, because he's in the parade!

Ken: Back to school... Back to school... Back to school...

## Morgan State University Magnificent Marching Machine

Ken: Our next band calls Baltimore, Maryland home, they are the Morgan State University Magnificent Marching Machine. This is the first time a band from the state of Maryland has marched in the parade since 2010, and this is the M3's first appearance in the Santa Claus Parade.

Savannah: They've also performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and I remember when they did, as well as the Honda Battle of the Bands and the D-Day 80 Normandy Parade in France, where they became the first HBCU marching band to perform at that event. They were also featured in the movie Head of State starring Chris Rock, so they're also movie stars!

Ken: Wow, a movie star marching band. But they're not the only movie star marching band in this year's parade, as we saw the USC Trojan Band go by earlier and they're been in many TV shows and movies.

Savannah: They sound amazing! The M3 combines high-stepping choreography, dynamic arrangements of traditional and popular music, intricate rhythms, a creative flag line and stunning dancers into one big horn-blasting, cymbal-smashing show band that is already a huge hit with everyone watching the parade tonight! Keep it up Morgan State!

## Safari, So Good

Ken: Savannah, I think I'm going bananas.

Savannah: Why, is it because of those bananas in the middle of the road?

Ken: Exactly. Hoda's gonna tell us about this next float, and it's a funny one that I'm sure a lot of people watching the parade will get a kick out of.

Hoda: Oh boy, this next float is one that I've been looking forward to, and this is a good one. This float is titled, Safari, So Good, and it depicts a monkey causing chaos on a safari off-roader by throwing a banana peel in front of it! This float really captures the sense of humour of the float designers, and right now I'm joined by these friends from...

Spectator: Luanda, Angola.

Spectator: Shanghai, China.
Spectator: Naples, Italy.
Spectator: Brampton, Ontario.

Spectator: And Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Hoda: What do you guys think of the float?

Spectator: It's funny.

Spectator: Yeah, I love it.

Hoda: So you notice that banana peel in front of the safari jeep, what you you think the monkey should do to prevent that from happening?

Spectator: Not throw the banana peel?

Spectator: Stay inside the jeep?

Spectator: Not make the driver upset?

Hoda: Those are all good answers. What other animals do you see inside the jeep.

Spectator: A rhino, who's the driver.

Spectator: A gazelle.

Spectator: A hippo.

Hoda: Good eyes, and look who's running behind the jeep do you guys know what animal that is?

Spectator: A cheetah?

Hoda: Yes, it's a cheetah, and he's catching up to the jeep because he missed his ride! Isn't that funny?

Spectator: Yes, that's very funny.

Hoda: Well, we're all laughing up a storm down here as the Safari, So Good float passes by, back to you guys.

## Banda De Música La Primavera

Savannah: That is a funny float. I love that the banana is also self-propelled, and my favourite character is the cheetah because he's catching up the the jeep. And right behind him are some upside-down monkeys who are always up for some monkey business.

Ken: All the way from Panama, here comes our next international band outside of North America! You wanna say it?

Savannah: Okay. Sorry if I butcher this, but this is Banda de Música La Primavera.

Ken: Oh, you nailed it!

Savannah: Oh, thank goodness, I really thought I was gonna mess up big time there.

Ken: Well, you didn't. Back to the band, I bet they're getting a standing ovation from our Panamanian viewers who are really proud of their country right now.

Savannah: Well, they should be! Directed by... Oh boy... I'm not falling for this again so I'll let you take care of this.

Ken: \*Laughs\* Okay, anyone who speaks fluent Spanish, please don't turn off the TV if I butcher this, I'm just trying my best. But this band is directed by... Javier Alberto Jiménez Ortiz, I'M SORRY!

Savannah: \*Laughs\*

Ken: I'm sorry, I'm just not used to saying long names.

Savannah: Listen, that wasn't bad at all!

Ken: Okay, I believe you... The band is comprised of musicians, auxiliary, and traditional Panamanian dancers that you're seeing in front of the band, and they're all students at an educational centre that encompasses elementary, middle and high school students across Panama. They were formed in 1992, and they started out with 30 members. Today, 290 are marching down the streets of Toronto for their first Santa Claus Parade. Here's an interesting fact; Panama is actually the only country in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic. Both oceans are connected by the Panama Canal, a river that extends from the country's capital, Panama City, to the Caribbean Sea.

## Hip Hop 50

Savannah: Well Ken, this is one of the floats that everyone has been waiting for! Especially all of the hip-hop fans watching the parade tonight! 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music and the Santa Claus Parade is celebrating in a big way with the Hip Hop 50 float! This float highlights the birthplace of hip-hop music, the Bronx, New York.

Ken: Over the years, hip-hop has become a huge genre of music with millions of music lovers, and hundreds of rappers have been making and performing music for thousands of hip-hop enthusiasts, and this float highlights the many rappers that have joined the scene, both modern-day rappers like Ice Spice, Travis Scott and Toronto's very own Drake, and rappers of the past like LL Cool J, The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, who actually got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year!

Savannah: This float features many buildings from the Bronx decorated with graffiti with a giant boombox at the back, and there's even a DJ mixing hip-hop hits of the past and the present!

Ken: Y'know, this is another float that so many people were looking forward to seeing. And get this, we were originally gonna have Drake appear on this float, but just like Taylor Swift, he was really busy. However, Drake wants everyone to have a happy holiday season, and for all the Drake fans out there, don't forget to buy his new album, For All The Dogs, which is now available at a music store near you, alongside all music streaming platforms.

Savannah: That DJ's doing a great job!

Ken: He is.

## Kickboxing Kangaroos

Ken: Savannah?

Savannah: Yes?

Ken: Look at what's coming our way.

Savannah: Oh my gosh, this is the coolest thing ever!

Ken: I can't believe my eyes!

Savannah: As someone whose background is Australian, I am very proud of my country right now.

Ken: The name of this float is Kickboxing Kangaroos, and this is one of the most technologically advanced floats in this year's parade. Here we see two tough kangaroos in a boxing ring, fighting it out. These kangaroos are some of the most advanced animatronic characters the parade's designers have ever designed. They are powered by servo motors, which rotates parts of these two giant figures with high efficiency and great precision. As you can see, the motors are so powerful the kangaroos actually look like they are fighting each other!

Savannah: This float is amazing! Look at the gloves punching, the legs kicking, the heads turning and tilting, the eyes are blinking and even the ears are moving! This is an incredible float! I think we're looking at the future of parade floats.

Ken: Indeed. Steve Irwin would be proud.

Savannah: Here's an interesting fact about these mighty creatures, kangaroos are very aggressive towards humans when they expect food or feel threatened, especially the males. But these two are boxing each other, which is actually a national symbol of Australia that is also used frequently in pop culture. Male kangaroos usually fight for dominance so that one of them can be the alpha male of their mob.

Ken: If these two were talking, I bet they'd be like; \*Doing Australian accent\* Oi! You better stay outta my way! I'm the alpha! No, you're a fool!

Savannah: Um, excuse me?!

Ken: Sorry. I didn't know that was gonna offend you.

Savannah: It's okay, I knew you were joking. Where'd you learn to do an Australian accent?

Ken: My kids are obsessed with Bluey.

Savannah: Well, there you go.

## Sign-Off

Hoda: Wow, that is how you finish a parade.

Savannah: Well, the parade is over, but now is the perfect time to reflect on how amazing the parade was. I think we can all agree that this was probably the best parade yet.

Hoda: Guys, It's snowing!

Savannah: Oh, that's so cool!

Ken: That's real snow by the way.

Savannah: Before we go, we just wanna say a big thank you to everyone behind the parade, the board members and directors, the staff, all of the designers, everyone in all of the different departments, the float, band and costume departments and everyone else who helped put on another wonderful show, and as well, thank you to all of the bands for coming here, we hope you had fun marching, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time here in Toronto.

Hoda: I wanna say a very special thank you to all of the volunteers for making this parade possible, all of the marchers, float drivers, parade marshals, crowd supervisors, and everyone else that gave up their time to volunteer for the parade.

Ken: I wanna say thank you to all of these awesome fans for coming out! Hey guys, did you have fun?

Crowd: Yeah!

Ken: Awesome! You've been a great audience! A big thank you to all of these parade-lovers behind us who travelled here to watch the parade, whether they drove or flew on a plane, you guys are the reason why we do this.

Savannah: And as well, we wanna thank everyone around the world watching the parade live on TV, streaming the parade on a streaming app, or watching the live broadcast on YouTube. We wanna thank all of the parade lovers who watched the parade and made it a parade to remember. But the biggest thank you has to go to everyone behind the real Toronto Santa Claus Parade for inspiring TheCreativeCanadian to create this parade. So Happy Holidays to everyone watching.

Ken: That's right, we're including everyone.

Hoda: To all of the Christians, whether you're Christian, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or any other Christian denomination celebrating the birth of Jesus, Merry Christmas.

Savannah: Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish viewers and Ashura Mubarak to the Muslim community. We would especially like to extend warm wishes to everyone in Israel and Palestine that are currently going through tough times. We wish you all the best, and hopefully this ongoing war will finally come to an end.

Hoda: Also, Happy Diwali to our Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain viewers and Happy Kwanzaa to the African community.

Ken: Well, that's a wrap for this year. And now that the parade is over, planning for the 2024 parade is underway.

Savannah: While we wait for that, on behalf of the Santa Claus Parade team, Ken, Hoda and our crew, we are wishing you and your family a very Happy Holidays!

Hoda: Happy Holidays!

Ken: Happy Holidays everyone.

(The credits are shown on screen, ending with the Santa Claus Parade Studios logo.)