The hundreds of thousands who lined the streets of Toronto waiting to see Santa Claus on Sunday also got to see something else this year — the hundreds of people taking part in a five-kilometre run ahead of the big parade.

For the first time, the parade held what it has dubbed the Holly Jolly Fun Run. Each participant paid $100, with the total proceeds going to the annual parade.

After that came the parade itself, which has been an annual Toronto tradition for more than a century.

Four-year-old Kyle Pinto was sitting in a lawnchair, waiting for the famous man in red to make his appearance.

Asked why he was waiting for Santa, the boy said it’s because "he likes you."

And when the famous North Pole resident made his way through the city today on his float, Santa was greeted with many waves from his admirers watching from the street.