Santa Claus Parade in Montreal | The Secrets of the Costume Workshop

Families in the Montreal area were eagerly awaiting his return. After a two-year break, the Santa Claus parade will once again take to the streets of the metropolis this Saturday. On the eve of the illustrious personage’s arrival in town, The Press takes you behind the scenes of the preparations for this very popular event. Welcome to the costume workshop.

(Mercier) On the work surface, a styrofoam head wears a funny cap on which pointy ears are attached. They are those of a pixie, of course. What little man forgot part of his anatomy in the studio of Marie-Claude Chailler, alias Marie-Cocotte, in Mercier? Is it a postman elf? One of those who make toys? Perhaps the person in charge of Santa’s sleigh?

None of these answers. It is rather one of the screaming elves, new characters who will play a very important role this year during the parade.

For the first time, the event will be presented as a story divided into chapters. And it is up to the screaming elves to tell it.

“The parade is very different in its outfit compared to what has been done in the past. The division by chapters is innovative,” believes Sonia Guidotti, producer of the event.

It is to the director of the parade, Joël Legendre, that we owe this idea, she reveals. “It was Joel who wrote the story. A beautiful synopsis. »

This life-size tale will begin with a character who plays an essential role in the preparations for New Year’s Eve: Mrs. Claus.

On her large table, Marie-Cocotte shows The Press some pieces of fabric that will be used to make his coat. “I said to myself that it would have to be made from all the Santa Claus clothes that she recycles,” explains the seamstress.

“Are you designing a new costume for Mrs. Claus?” “, we ask him. “It was never done,” she replies. “There has never been a Mrs. Claus in the parade,” says Sonia Guidotti.

“We add one. And we don’t just add one, it opens the show. It’s a Christmas statement that we make, ”says the producer.

With her team, she also wanted to “mix up customs a bit” and wanted the parade to reflect “current values”.

“More current and more inclusive”

The choice of drag-queen Barbada as Star Fairy testifies to this desire. “It is with the idea of ​​being more current and more inclusive that we proposed Barbada”, explains Sonia Guidotti, who is “very happy” with this decision even if it has been criticized by some.

“Barbada is close to children. She has her show. She reads stories [dans des bibliothèques]. All the children know her. She’s the right character to do the Star Fairy, ”says the producer.

His sparkling costume, the creation of which is not finished, stands out among the hanging pieces of clothing. “We’re going to decorate everything with lots of diamonds, of course,” explains Marie-Cocotte, showing the blue coat of the fairy whose mission is to put the little ones to sleep before Santa Claus comes by.

She will also wear a huge headdress designed by a wigmaker. “It’s a huge star snowflake. It’s extraordinary, ”says the producer.

More than 850 extras

In all, Marie-Cocotte and her team worked on a hundred new costumes. Among them, mini-fairy dresses from the Stars and toddler pajamas to dress some of the approximately 120 children who will take part in the parade. A higher number than in the past, underlines Sonia Guidotti.

It must be said that many volunteers raised their hands to take part in this 70^e parade. More than 1000 people, including 856 costumed extras.

Marie-Cocotte coaches The Press in another room where dozens of large crates are lined up. Their content? Giant Christmas balls, fabric snowmen, red or green coats and many other costumes that we have seen in previous editions. These boxes, which are each associated with an allegorical float, will be transported this Friday to LaSalle College, where the participants’ lodges are located. Saturday morning, the latter will discover the character they will embody.

Nearly 400,000 people are expected in downtown Montreal to see the fifteen allegorical floats parade. In addition to Santa Claus, his spouse and the Star Fairy, Cirque du Soleil, the Quebec Issime troupe, toddler singer Henri Godon and rocker clown Atchoum will be part of the event that promises to be colorful… and even in smell.

Yes, yes, for the first time, an allegorical float will be accompanied by a perfume, which is presumed to be attractive. “We try to explore all the possibilities”, sums up Sonia Guidotti.

The Santa Claus parade will begin this Saturday, at 11 a.m., at the corner of Sainte-Catherine Ouest and Guy streets. He will then go to the Place des Festivals. Street closures are planned in the area. TVA will broadcast the event on Sunday, at 4 p.m., during a program hosted by Isabelle Racicot and Sébastien Benoit.