It takes an incredible number of volunteers to coordinate the Santa Claus Parade each year. On average, we have 3000 people working together to pull off the event without a hitch.
One of the most important roles is that of our Parade Marshals. Today we are highlighting Dan Eldridge, our head Parade Marshal. Dan’s job is to not only recruit our fantastic group of Marshals, but to also organizes every little detail associated with them. You can find Dan working diligently on the lists of who will work in which section of the Parade from September to November every year. It’s his job to figure out who can attend and where they are best suited to help us on Parade day.
When it’s show time, Dan coordinates the whole Marshal group. He is there bright and early on Parade day, signing everyone in and sharing the last-minute details with hi crew. Things can change in an instant with a live event – and Dan is an expert making sure our Marshals are ready for anything.
We asked Dan what being part of the Santa Claus Parade means to him.
“I have always thought that it is important to give back to your community and there are few better ways than to help with the Santa Claus Parade. The Parade is such a rich experience and the ability to see it behind the scenes is such a special opportunity. From the skilled float artists to the fairylike costumes, it is a miracle how it takes a year to bring it all together for just one day. On parade day, from Start to Finish, it is a magical experience to bring smiles to so many people. It is also an absolute pleasure to work with so many dedicated Marshals who come back year after year to help make it all happen. I can think of few things that lift my spirits like the spirit of the Santa Claus Parade.”
We are so thankful for Dan and the entire Parade Marshal team he leads. We couldn’t put on such a spectacular show without their expertise in keeping our thousands of costumed volunteers organized on Parade day.
The details about this year’s televised event can be found on our blog.
Be sure to follow all our social channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) @TOSantaParade and our blog at https://thesantaclausparade.com/blog/ for all the updates.
