After 25 years of bringing Santa Claus to Hamilton's streets, supermarket chain MarketPlace is “shocked and disappointed” that the City hit them with a $2,500 fee for the first time ever.“This is the time of year when we should all be pulling together to help one another,” a MarketPlace spokesman told The Royal Gazette after it was revealed the Corporation would be charging for the popular annual Parade.“The Christmas Parade is one of the most important community events of the year, especially for our children. The cost of the Christmas Parade is a considerable expense to all of the participants both in time and materials. The future of the Christmas parade is now uncertain because of these increased costs.”According to MarketPlace, a double blow is that poor economic times have caused many of their usual sponsors to have to pull out.“The MarketPlace organises the Children's Christmas Parade as a gesture of goodwill to the community. We do it to thank our customers and to bring the spirit of Christmas to Hamilton to as many children as possible.”Asked why the charge was being levied this year for the first time, a City spokesman said the Corporation's primary concern for large events was to ensure safety, and to return the city to normal as quickly as possible.“Whenever there is a parade in Hamilton, the organisers are charged for the fees incurred,” the spokesman said.“These fees include the cost for barricades — putting them out and collecting them afterwards — as well as custodians and extra trash collection immediately after the event.”