Downtown Barrie is about to look a lot like Christmas.
The holiday season kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 16, with the Barrie Santa Claus Parade and Noella Tree Lighting Celebration.
Starting at 1 p.m., downtown Barrie will come alive with festive music and family activities at Meridian Place while waiting for Santa’s arrival. Food and toy donations will be accepted, and the Downtown Barrie tree lot will be selling trees and wreaths — with all proceeds going to Hospice Simcoe.
The Barrie Santa Claus Parade, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., celebrates its 75th year in 2024. Since its inception in 1949, this long-running family event has become a holiday tradition and this year’s parade will feature the theme Joy to the World, celebrating traditional holiday music.
The parade will start from Lakeshore Drive north of Tiffin Street, proceeding north to Toronto Street, then east on Dunlop Street to Mulcaster Street.
Once the Santa Claus Parade concludes, estimated at 6:30 to 7 p.m., Santa will return to Meridian Place to light the holiday tree, followed by a special fireworks display over downtown Barrie and a holiday concert on the Wildfire-Peacock Stage in Meridian Place.
Festive lights in Meridian Place and Centennial Park, presented by the Rotary Club of Barrie, will also be lit for the winter season.
Due to construction in Heritage Park, the light displays have moved to the Centennial Park area this year.
The Sophia Creek Owen Tributary storm outlet from Memorial Square has an estimated completion date of June 2025.
This project includes installing the trunk storm sewer from Memorial Square to the Bayfield Basin through Heritage Park and completing the dredging within the Bayfield Basin. This project will help reduce flooding downtown.
The project will connect the trunk storm sewer located close to the sidewalk on the north side of Simcoe Street to the Harbour Wall within the Bayfield Basin.
The sheet pile installations for the entire construction site have been completed. Efforts are now focused on dewatering the area and lowering the groundwater table to prepare for the installation of concrete box culverts.
The contractor is also reviewing the plans to implement a one-way traffic configuration on Simcoe Street.
The city and the contractor are working closely to minimize impacts on the community and traffic flow.
