Airdrie residents will get a special treat during the Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, December 7, as the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan stops in the city from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The iconic Coca-Cola truck, adorned with sparkling holiday lights, will accompany Santa and his elves, spreading festive cheer and joy to the community.
This year, Coca-Cola is adding a new twist to its annual Holiday Caravan tour with the launch of Canada's Kindest Community Contest. The program invites Canadians to share stories of kindness in their community for a chance to win a $50,000 donation for a local non-profit organization.
"The Holiday Caravan was born from an opportunity to spread optimism and share joy in communities coast-to-coast,” said Todd Parsons, CEO of Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited. "By uniting the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan and Canada's Kindest Community Contest, we connect the joy of the holiday season with making a meaningful difference in the communities where we operate. We believe kindness is contagious, and every kind act, no matter its size, has the potential to make an impact."
In partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, the contest allows Canadians to nominate acts of kindness that have improved their community. Nominations can be submitted online via the Coca-Cola Holiday Hub or by scanning QR codes available at local Holiday Caravan stops and select retailers. Entries will be accepted until January 6, 2025.
The community with the most submissions per capita will be named Canada's Kindest Community and receive a $50,000 donation from a local non-profit. The winning community will also host a special 2025 Holiday Caravan experience.
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan starts its cross-country tour in Halifax on November 14 and will wrap up in Vancouver on December 22. Additional Alberta stops for the Coca-Cola truck in Alberta include several stops in Calgary, with details available online.
Airdrie's beloved annual Santa Claus Parade, hosted by Airdrie Parades, will kick off on December 7. The organization is currently looking for volunteers.
Other highly-anticipated holiday events in Airdrie next month include the Sunday, December 1 Sirens charity hockey game, which will see the city's firefighters and Mounties face off at the Ron Ebbesen Twin Arena. The hockey game will begin at 4 and last until 6:30 p.m. Entry is by donations to the Airdrie 1st Holiday Hamper Program.
Also, Airdrie's Festival of Lights Society and Fortis Alberta will host Light Up the Night on Sunday. This event will see a countdown to the Christmas tree lighting in Nose Creek Park, kicking off the official 29th season of the Festival of Lights in Airdrie - where the entire park will be aglow. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
"Also back is our Candy Cane Run, with our local Fire Department, who will be handing out candy canes to all in attendance," Airdrie's Festival of Lights Society stated on its website.
Later in December, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train will return to Airdrie on December 13, bringing festive lights, live music, and holiday spirit to Nose Creek Park from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
This year’s performers include Magic! and Sofia Camara. The Holiday Train, an annual tradition since 1999, travels across Canada and the U.S., raising money and collecting food donations to support local food banks.
The Airdrie Food Bank is excited to welcome the train back, with Christine Taylor of the Airdrie Food Bank highlighting the importance of community support during the holidays.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.