VIDEO: Christmas parade brings in big bucks and (mostly) rave reviews
The Parade with a Purpose appears to have accomplished that purpose.
With matching dollars from an anonymous philanthropist, the Christmas Parade is closing in on half a million dollars raised for the new Youth Recovery House at The Bridge.
Crowds at the Saturday evening event appear to have surpassed the expected crowd of 10,000 people.
"Congratulations to Pam Turgeon and her whole team," said Downtown Kelowna Association Executive Director Mark Burley.
"It was certainly way bigger than any of us thought it would be."
Turgeon along with a small group of family and friends started the parade in her Kettle Valley Neighbourhood in 2020.
Since then it's grown every year so it was decided to bring it downtown.
"We had people five deep on the sidewalks on Bernard from about 5:00 on, the parade didn't even start until 6," said Burley.
With thousands downtown, at a time when many shops ordinarily close, some businesses were able to take advantage.
"I spoke with a couple of coffee shops that sold more hot chocolate than they've sold in a long time," Burley said.
But the decision to close parking along Bernard all day ahead of the parade is taking some criticism.
"It is the first year and there's growing pains. And it was the second Saturday which is one of the biggest shopping days that there is," explained Burley.
"We're listening to the members who reached out to us about that."
While the event may have been disruptive to some businesses, the consensus is mostly positive.
"Our restaurants were jammed from noon on with families," he added.
Traffic and parking are bound to be issues for an event like this, and Burley said the Downtown Association plans to get in on the planning next year to make the best of it.
"How we can do that differently? Or how we can do it better?"
As of Monday morning the fundraiser had raised over $212,000 with matching funds expected from the anonymous benefactor.
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