Santa greets the kids during the 2016 parade. Image taken from a Valley Indy livestream of the event.
SEYMOUR — Editor’s Note: the 2019 parade was not canceled, it was postponed.
After a two one year absence, the Seymour Christmas Parade will step off at 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 28) from the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine St.
The 2019 parade was cancelled postponed due to bad weather and the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled last year’s parade.
Dozens of festive floats, marching bands, local scout and brownie troops, dance groups, youth sports teams, fire trucks, police cars and more will join the march over the Broad Street Bridge, through the downtown business district, make a stop at the reviewing stand at the corner of Main and Bank streets, proceed to Route 67 and disband at French Memorial Park.
Santa himself will make his annual appearance atop a float direct from the North Pole, but in a neat twist this year, the Grinch, not Santa, will bring up the parade’s rear, tossing out popcorn balls to the crowd, according to the Events Committee Chairman Alex Danka.
“We wanted to change things up a bit,” said Danka. “It’s been two years since the parade happened in town, and we’re very excited to see it return. It’s a nice way to kick off the holiday season.”
Leading this year’s parade as grand marshal is Seymour Police Department Police Chief Paul Satkowski, who is retiring Dec. 31 after devoting more than 30 years to law enforcement, the last 26 years at the Seymour Police Department. Satkowski, 54, can’t remember not attending the parade as a child, or as a father with his own kids. He has marched, ridden in a police cruiser and watched his kids march from the sidelines. But leading the parade is quite an honor.
“Words alone cannot describe how truly honored I am,” Satkowski said. “The parade is such a big event for the town, as people from all over the Valley, state and beyond come to Seymour to kick off the holiday season and, of course, to see Santa. It’s nice to be recognized for this prestigious event alongside all of the previous recipients of this award.”
In his previous position as Deputy Police Chief, and most recently as Chief, Satkowski was responsible for the oversight of the parade for 11 years, working closely with the late parade organizer and longtime softball coach and veteran Seymour school teacher Bob Lang. Lang passed away Oct. 1 at age 80. A tribute in Lang’s honor will be a highlight of the parade.
“The parade was very near and dear to Mr. Lang, and he put so much time and effort to ensure the parade was held every year to keep the tradition alive and for everyone to have fun,” Satkowski added. “This just makes it more remarkable for me to be the grand marshal of the parade on the year Mr. Lang has passed away.”
Also being honored this year is Alberto’s Restaurant as ‘Business of the Year’ and resident Rosalie Averill as ‘Volunteer of the Year.’
Prior to the parade kickoff at 2 p.m., the Tottenham Dance Studio will perform and the Seymour Debate Team will present a debate concerning the Grinch and the People of Whoville at the reviewing stand downtown, located at the corner of Bank and Main Street.
The parade is just one Seymour tradition kicking off the holiday season. Here’s some other festive events on tap for December:
- Dec. 4, First Saturday Holiday Celebration, downtown Seymour, 4:30-8 p.m., face painting, cookies and hot chocolate, bands, children’s activities, tree lighting at American Legion Post and Santa arrives by train at 6:25 p.m. via the Metro North Polar Express on Main Street. Hosted by Seymour Culture &Arts Commission.
- Dec. 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Seymour Historical Society, 59 West St., Santa at the Museum, bring your camera to take pictures with Santa, bring non-perishable food item to be entered in raffle to win grocery store gift card.
*Holiday House Decorating Contest, prizes awarded for best traditional, extreme and themed houses, judging takes place second week of December and winners notified by Dec. 19.
To enter contest, fill out form online (CLICK HERE for the PDF) and email it to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
*Dec. 11 Seymour Land Trust presents fireworks and Santa’s workshop at 6 p.m., 13 Chatfield St.
