Social media influencer MDMotivator will be grand marshal of Windsor's Santa Claus parade
The 57th annual Santa Claus parade in Windsor, Ont., will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
It's set to run from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The route begins on Ouellette Avenue at Elliott Street — stretching toward the river, then going west along Riverside Drive — ending at Caron Avenue.
Windsor's Santa Claus parade is set for Dec. 7 along downtown streets for the second straight year. (Windsor Parade Corporation)
After bringing the parade back to the core last year, Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association chair Chris MacLeod calls it a pivotal family event.
"We had thousands of people lining the streets," he said.
"It's just such a great time of year and a great event for our downtown. This really, for me, shows what downtown can be, with all of the things that we have going on to make our downtown better."
Windsor's Santa Claus parade will take place on downtown streets again this December. It runs Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., along Ouellette Avenue and Riverside Drive. (Windsor Parade Corporation)
Maggie Durocher, with the Windsor Parade Corporation, says they've pushed back the starting area to Elliott Street this year, to accommodate a larger staging area.
"We had a lot of entries come in already," she said.
"We're anticipating lots more. A lot of buzz about it. We've already got some great entertainment lined up. Lots of bands, new and interesting floats, too."
Maggie Durocher is the executive director of the Windsor Parade Corporation. (Leandra Vermeulen/CBC)
Social media influencer to be grand marshal: Councillor
Windsor-born social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski, also known as MD Motivator, will serve as the parade's grand marshal, according to downtown Windsor city councillor Renaldo Agostino.
"I know he's working on something very special to really give the gift of Christmas to someone needy out there that needs it," said Agostino.
"That's what he does … it was a perfect tie-in, and he's a great guy. I think we're going to have more coming soon as to exactly what he's doing. I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic thing for a family in need in Windsor."
Zachery Dereniowski is a social media influencer from Windsor, Ont., with millions of followers across platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. (Zachery Dereniowski/Facebook)
