Santa Claus Is Back in Town with CTV’s Exclusive Broadcast of THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE, December 3

Tags: @CTV_PR, @CTV, @CP24, @thelede_ca, @TOSantaParade, #SantaClausParadeTO

TORONTO (November 15, 2022) – It’s a “claus” for celebration! The beloved family tradition and annual broadcast event, THE 118^th ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE returns to the streets of Toronto and exclusively to CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Produced by Bell Media Studios, the 90-minute special is set to include yuletide performances from multiplatinum artist and Emmy^®, Grammy^®, Oscar^®, and Tony^® winner John Legend. Coming off his critically acclaimed Las Vegas residency, “Love In Las Vegas,” and the release of his 8^th studio album, Legend, the 12-time Grammy^® Award winner celebrates the joy of the season with a performance of “You Deserve It All.” Also joining this year’s lineup performing “Winter Wonderland” is Canadian platinum-selling R&B singer-songwriter Preston Pablo.

(L-R): 12-time Grammy^® Award winner John Legend; Canadian platinum-selling R&B singer, songwriter Preston Pablo

Returning to anchor North America’s longest running children’s parade are broadcasting trio THE SOCIAL’s Melissa Grelo, CTV YOUR MORNING’s Kelsey McEwen, and ETALK’s Tyrone Edwards. Kicking off from Bloor and Christie streets in Toronto, Grelo and McEwen are there every step of the way to help welcome floats and families, while Edwards moves across the city in his holiday-themed golf cart, giving audiences an up-close-and-personal look at what it really takes for Canada’s largest outdoor entertainment event to come to life. This year, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE, features 27 majestic floats, including one led by Mary Berg and Andrew Han, the hosts of CTV’s all-new original competition series CROSS COUNTRY CAKE OFF premiering Sunday, Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. The parade also includes 18 spectacular marching bands, popular celebrity clowns, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Claus. In addition to exclusive behind-the-scenes content from Santa’s warehouse, including a never-before seen look at the intricate process that goes into making the floats, this year, CTV is passing over the camera to the viewers. As the community comes together again, a select number of families along the parade route provide an intimate point-of-view via a new feature dubbed the “Fam Cam.” Desjardins, North America’s leading financial cooperative group, is a proud partner of THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE and is hosting a toy drive in support of the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish (The Wish) – one of the largest distributor of toys in the Greater Toronto Area. On Nov. 20, parade goers are welcomed to bring new, unwrapped toys at Desjardins’ two toy drop-off zones, located at Berczy Park and Emmanuelle College. Those looking for other ways to give can participate in the 2022 Santa Claus Parade 50/50 Raffle. The initiative supports multiple Canadian charities, including The Wish. From now through Dec. 18, tickets can be purchased online, with the draw taking place on Dec. 19. Toronto’s number one breaking news channel CP24 provides the official livestream of the parade when it comes back to city streets on Sunday, Nov. 20 beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.