Coniston showed its holiday spirit on Dec. 14 as hundreds of people in the small community on Greater Sudbury’s eastern edge turned out for the Coniston Community Christmas Parade.
The event was organized by the Coniston Community Action Network and the Coniston Lions Club.
The parade featured dozens of brightly decorated floats from local Coniston businesses, including several from the Coniston Industrial Park, as well as floats and marchers representing local groups and sports teams, like the Coniston Flames and the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club.
The parade made its way north up Edward Avenue past Centennial Park to Concession Road, east to Second Avenue and south to Government Road, around the other side of the park and back to the industrial park where it began.
The highlight was Santa Claus on a float being pulled by a semi sporting a big red nose and giant, brightly lit antlers.
Following the parade, folks packed the Colonial Sports Bar to warm up with hot chocolate (or other more adult beverages) before the tree-lighting ceremony. And finally, the enjoyable evening ended with an impressive fireworks display that lasted much longer than most people seemed to expect.