Santa Claus is coming to Queens County

LIVERPOOL - The eighth annual Liverpool Fire Department Christmas Parade will soon light up the night.
This year’s event is set to take place Nov. 26. The lineup is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., with floats being judged at 5:30 p.m.
“And the parade starts at 6 (p.m.),” said Terrena Parnell, one of the organizers.
The parade will leave Queens Place Emera Centre and head down Bristol Avenue. Across the bridge, the parade will turn onto Henry Hensey Drive and head to the fire hall.
“It’s a little bit of a shorter route because it’s cold in the winter time,” explained Parnell.  
The Liverpool Fire Department Christmas Parade doesn’t charge floats an entrance fee, but there is something new happening this year.  
“We’re taking donations, and what we’d like to do is help out a less fortunate family for Christmas this year with the funds that we raise,” said Parnell.
Parnell and Diane Warner have been organizing the parade for three years. The first year they took it over, the two had a parade organized in less than a month. The organization side involves writing lots of emails and letters to invite people.
“And then on the day in question, we stand over at Queens Place, her on one end of the parking lot and me way over on the other with radios and some firemen and get it lined up,” said Parnell.
There are presently 25 to 30 floats, and Parnell said anyone interested in joining in could register right up until the day of the parade.
Once the parade comes to an end at the fire hall, children can visit with Santa while having free hotdogs and hot chocolate. Parnell encourages children to drop off their Santa letters, and she’ll mail them.
A storm date is scheduled for Nov. 27 at the same times.