For weeks now, volunteers with The Brampton Board of Trade’s (BBOT) Santa Claus Parade committee have been working around-the-clock to make sure the annual event exceeds expectations.

More than 100 brightly lit floats, accompanied to sounds of music and marching bands will wind its way through Brampton’s Main Street, Saturday, Nov. 19, beginning at 5 p.m.

The parade will begin on Main and Sproule Streets and then travel southwards until it reaches Main Street South and Elgin Drive.

“This is one of the few night-time parades in the country,” said Akhil Mooken, media spokesperson for the BBOT’s Santa Claus Parade. “A few years ago, we were voted the best community parade in Canada by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. That goes to show you the size and quality of our floats.”

There are two new events this year before the parade.

At 2:30 p.m., residents are invited to watch members of city council face-off against those from the Downtown BIA in a game of road hockey. Following that, a team from Peel Regional Police will take on Brampton Fire. The games are taking place near the four corners. Proceeds will benefit Toys for Tots.

There’s also an Elf Dash, a free one-kilometre holiday-themed run, at 4:15 p.m. beginning at Main Street South and Nanwood Drive with the finish line being at city hall.

Other highlights include: a giant, inflatable Ginger Bread Man, Minions, two mascots (Emperor Penguins), couriers collecting letters to Santa, free hot chocolate and of course, jolly old St. Nick.

“The smiles we see on the faces of both children and adults makes it worth while to us each year,” Mooken said, adding two years ago attendance swelled to more than 170,000 people. “The parade is successful because of the commitment from our volunteers as well as the dedication of the residents who support us.”

The Canadian Progress Club will be collecting non-perishable food items along the route. Also, people are asked to bring a new and unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots road hockey games.