Toronto Santa Claus Parade takes a new route on November 22 due to water main work
The 122nd Toronto Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 22 will take a different route after water main repairs on University Avenue forced a change. The parade starts at 12:30 pm at Christie Pits.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on nowtoronto.com.
Toronto's 122nd Santa Claus Parade will follow a new path on Sunday, November 22, after water main repairs on University Avenue forced a detour.
NOW Toronto reported on November 14 that the parade will travel further along Bloor Street, turn south onto Yonge Street, then continue to Queen Street before rejoining the original route toward St. Lawrence Market. The parade starts at Christie Pits at 12:30 pm.
What changed and why
Repair work on a water main near College Street on University Avenue made the usual parade corridor unavailable for this year's event. The result is a route that moves the parade's path east, bringing it through the Bloor and Yonge corridor for the first time in recent years.
University Avenue will still be closed for the event, along with Bloor Street, Yonge Street, Bay Street, College Street and Front Street. The official Santa Claus Parade website lists the specific start and end time for each closure. Drivers and TTC riders on those streets should check the site before heading out on November 22.
Getting around on parade day
The street closures will affect TTC bus and streetcar service on several routes in the area on November 22. Routes running on Bloor, Yonge, College and Queen streets typically receive detour orders on parade day. The TTC usually posts service advisories on its website and app a few days before the event.
The parade draws large crowds along the route, so sidewalks near Yonge and Queen streets will fill up well before 12:30 pm. Arriving early and checking the Santa Claus Parade website for the exact route map gives spectators the best view of the new path.
About the parade
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is organized by the Sprott House and has run continuously since 1905. The 122nd edition will follow the new Bloor-Yonge-Queen alignment through the city's core before finishing near St. Lawrence Market.
If you are planning to attend or drive in the area on November 22, check the route and closure details on the official Santa Claus Parade website before heading out.
Questions this story answers
When is the 2026 Toronto Santa Claus Parade?
The 122nd Toronto Santa Claus Parade takes place on Sunday, November 22, 2026. The parade starts at Christie Pits at 12:30 pm and travels along Bloor Street, then south on Yonge Street, then along Queen Street toward St. Lawrence Market, according to NOW Toronto's report on the route change published November 14, 2026.
Why is the Santa Claus Parade taking a different route in 2026?
Water main repairs near College Street on University Avenue forced organizers to change the route for the 2026 parade. Rather than travelling down University Avenue as in past years, the parade will detour onto Bloor Street and Yonge Street, NOW Toronto reported on November 14, 2026.
What is the new Santa Claus Parade route for 2026?
According to NOW Toronto, the 2026 parade will travel further along Bloor Street, then turn south onto Yonge Street, then continue to Queen Street to rejoin the original route toward St. Lawrence Market. It starts at Christie Pits.
What streets will be closed for the 2026 Toronto Santa Claus Parade?
NOW Toronto reported that the closures will affect Bloor Street, Yonge Street, University Avenue, Bay Street, College Street and Front Street. The official parade website lists specific closure times for each street.
Where does the Toronto Santa Claus Parade start?
The 2026 Toronto Santa Claus Parade starts at Christie Pits at 12:30 pm on Sunday, November 22. From Christie Pits, the parade travels east along Bloor Street, then turns south on Yonge Street, then continues along Queen Street toward St. Lawrence Market, NOW Toronto reported on November 14, 2026.
Where can I find exact road closure times for the Santa Claus Parade?
The official Santa Claus Parade website lists the specific closure times for each street affected. NOW Toronto reported on November 14, 2026 that multiple streets including Bloor, Yonge, University, Bay, College and Front will be closed on November 22.
Will the Toronto Santa Claus Parade go down University Avenue in 2026?
No. University Avenue is affected by water main repairs near College Street, which forced a route change. NOW Toronto reported on November 14, 2026 that the parade will instead travel along Bloor Street and south on Yonge Street to reach Queen Street.
Is the Toronto Santa Claus Parade free to watch in 2026?
Watching the Toronto Santa Claus Parade from the sidewalk is free. The parade runs on November 22, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm at Christie Pits, with the route travelling along Bloor, Yonge and Queen streets to St. Lawrence Market, NOW Toronto reported.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- NOW Toronto: Santa Claus Parade 2026 new routenowtoronto.com
- Toronto Santa Claus Parade official sitethesantaclausparade.com
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