Miracle on Bloor Street! THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE Broadcast Returns to CTV, November 19
– Multi-platinum, JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter Serena Ryder and JUNO-nominated Shawn Hook take the stage to perform –
– Star-studded roster including Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Fifth Harmony, Vanessa Hudgens, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, model Ashley Graham, and more provide holiday greetings throughout the broadcast –
– Hosted by THE SOCIAL and YOUR MORNING's Melissa Grelo and THE SOCIAL's Marci Ien along with 99.9 Virgin Radio's Tessa Malisani as roving parade reporter –
– Newly designed floats this season include a representation of the upcoming film, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; an underwater adventure of Toronto's own Ripley's Aquarium, and Nintendo's new 3D video game, Super Mario Odyssey.
– Visit CTV.ca/Santa for the latest parade news –
To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/2h6GfcP
TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2017 /CNW/ - It's the most wonderful time of the year! Canada's beloved family tradition is back, helping the holiday spirit soar with the THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT and 5:30 p.m. AT on CTV. For the seventh straight year, CTV is home to the exclusive broadcast of the annual holiday event and the longest-running children's parade in the world. In addition to debuting its new name, this year's spectacle features all-new floats, celebrity cameos, and a special holiday performance by JUNO nominee Shawn Hook and JUNO Award winner Serena Ryder. Hosting this year's 90-minute broadcast special is THE SOCIAL and YOUR MORNING's Melissa Grelo and THE SOCIAL's Marci Ien, along with 99.9 Virgin Radio's Tessa Malisani as this year's official roving parade reporter.
This year, some of the biggest stars in the world join in on the festivities with exclusive yuletide greetings from entertainers Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Vanessa Hudgens, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, Fifth Harmony, model Ashley Graham, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, and many more.
"We are elated to welcome Canadian musical artists Serena and Shawn to THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE broadcast," said John Kampilis, Executive Producer, Bell Media Studios. "Having this immensely talented duo perform is a great gift to parade goers and viewers across the country, and guaranteed to amp up the holiday cheer."
"THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE has introduced a new logo to recognize and celebrate the fact that we are the oldest and "original" Santa Claus Parade in Canada. This is the official name of our Not-for Profit Organization that was registered by the Province of Ontario in 1982, when we saved the Parade," said Peter Beresford, President and CEO of Funding Innovations Inc. "The new logo features a 'Norman Rockwell-style' Santa Claus with our name boldly stated above and below. It also features a banner that states 'since 1905', validating our claim. We are proud of the fact that we are the first and longest-running Santa Claus Parade in Canada and the largest outdoor entertainment event held in Canada every year "
"I've been a fan of THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE for as long as I can remember," said special guest Serena Ryder. "I'm super excited to be part of it and especially look forward to performing 'Happy Christmas' with Shawn."
"It's so great to begin the holiday season back in my home country as a first-time performer at THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE and alongside an artist I've always admired, Serena Ryder," said performer Shawn Hook. "The energy this time of year is always so incredible."
Adding to this year's festive lineup, THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE will debut several newly designed floats, including a representation of the upcoming film, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, an underwater adventure of Toronto's own Ripley's Aquarium, and Nintendo's new 3D video game, Super Mario Odyssey.
The broadcast will also spread holiday cheer with season's greetings and shared traditions from families around the world; children reading letters to Santa and singing Christmas carols; a behind-the-scenes look at the parade's marching bands; and of course a special visit from the one-and-only Santa Claus.
In addition to on-air coverage, CTV's parade-day essential website CTV.ca/Santa returns with all of the latest THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE news, on-demand access post-broadcast, as well as exclusive video content.
To get in to the holiday spirit, CTV asked this year's hosts to share their favourite Christmas holiday memory:
Marci Ien: As new parents we were very excited and bought so many gifts for our daughter Blaize's first Christmas. Once all the presents were opened, she played with the wrapping paper, the cardboard, the Styrofoam. Everything but the gifts. She was just happy to have us around. She taught us a lesson that day – it's not about the stuff. The "things" really don't matter. The season is about family, and about spending that quality time together. Since then, we've focused on the philosophy that less is more. We just take the time to be together as a family.
Melissa Grelo: The business of Christmas seems to swallow up a lot of people and it's easy to forget that it's really supposed to be about spending quality time with friends and family. That's why I cherish the way my family celebrates each and every year. On Christmas morning, we resort back to our decades-old tradition of going down to the horse stable in the quiet of morning, feeding, cleaning and caring for the animals with only one another. It's extremely rare to have the farm empty of people, so I have cherished the quiet bonding we do every year on that morning together. It's a back-to-basics approach to life that I long for, especially as my life seems to get busier and busier with a young family. I hope to pass this tradition on to my daughter.
Tessa Malisani: My favorite holiday memory is the time my cat jumped into our Christmas tree and knocked it over! It really reminded me that this is the most wonderful and hilarious time of the year.
An encore presentation of THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE will air on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. (Visit CTV.ca/Santa to confirm local broadcast times).
About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 16 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@TOSanta – Official Parade Twitter account
@MarciIen – Marci Ien
@melissagrelo – Melissa Grelo
@TessaOnAir – Tessa Malisani
Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv
facebook.com/TOSantaParade
Instagram:
@ctv_pr
@tosantaparade
@marci.ien
@melissagrelo
@tessaistessa
SOURCE CTV
![](https://rt.newswire.ca/rt.gif?NewsItemId=C8045&Transmission_Id=201711021210CANADANWCANADAPR_C8045&DateId=20171102)
Penny Evangelakos, CTV Networks, 416.384.3016 or [email protected]; Patricia Garcia, CTV Networks, 416.384.2645 or [email protected]; BellMediaPR.ca
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