Hundreds watch extended MarketPlace Christmas Parade
Hundreds gathered to watch the 2020 MarketPlace Christmas Parade and cheer Santa as he passed through Hamilton tonight.
https://livestream.com/accounts/26975642/events/9422491/player?width=640&height=360&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=&autoPlay=true&mute=falseThe annual parade’s route was longer than usual – starting at Shelly Bay MarketPlace and ending at Heron Bay MarketPlace – but the number of participants was smaller than in normal times.
Bermudian parade favourites like dance troupes and Gombeys joined in the fun, but they did so from the back of trucks, which drove the route with waving firefighters and several fire trucks, as well as MarketPlace staff.
A Royal Bermuda Regiment contingent ditched their berets for Santa hats as soldiers joined in the Christmans spirit.
Participants were greeted by a few hundred socially-distanced spectators along Front Street rather than the packed city sidewalks of earlier parades.
Parade-goers said they were disappointed by the smaller parade, but others said they were happy to see the event happen at all.
Peter Smith said his daughters were excited to be able to get out of the house – and wave at Santa – even if it was a brief encounter.
He added: “Everything is getting pushed back or postponed, and after the recent cases I thought they would cancel so it’s a pleasant surprise.
“It’s not the biggest crowd, but I’m not sure that’s what we want these days anyway.”
Mr Smith added that the parade was not as grand as it usually is, but had not expected that.
He said: “That’s 2020. Everyone’s going to be putting out hand sanitiser with their milk and cookies for Santa this year.”
Joy Benevides, who went to the parade with her son, said: “It’s good to keep the tradition alive, even if it is not quite the same as it normally is.
“I know why we can’t have them, but I do miss having the food stalls and everyone out and about.”
A mother, who asked not to be named, said the event was a disappointment compared to past events.
She said: “Usually they throw out candy and they have all the Gombeys and majorettes. This year it was mostly fire trucks.
“I’m sure it will be better next year, but I’m not sure why we came out this time.”
Lakeisha Stone said: “It was over in a second. I didn’t expect it to be a big thing, but I also didn’t think it would be that quick.”
But she added: “I’m happy folks are socially distancing and wearing masks – I wasn’t even sure we would come out for it given everything.”
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