(Montreal) Santa Claus will parade again on his sleigh on Saturday in downtown Montreal, after two years of absence due to health restrictions.
Her return will be marked by a touch of extravagance with the presence of drag queen Barbada from Barbados who slips into the shoes of the Star Fairy for the first time.
The procession of about fifteen allegorical floats – all 100% electric – will set off at 11 a.m. on rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, from rue Guy towards the place des Festivals where the Grand Montreal Christmas Market.
More than 500 artists and volunteers will parade alongside the grandpa dressed in red, such as members of the Corteo show from Cirque du Soleil and the troupe of the December show from Québec Issime.
Children’s artists Atchoum and Henri Godon will also be on hand to kick off the magic of the holidays.
Organizers expect 400,000 people at the event.
“I think it will also be an opportunity for people to find the city center. Because obviously, with the pandemic, not only did we not come together, but we also forsook a little [le cœur de la métropole québécoise] “, said Barbada in an interview, a few days before the event.
“We found it a little this summer with the festivals. But for the holiday season, it will be a new opportunity to revisit the beauty and diversity offered by downtown Montreal. »
The one that has been presenting storytime hours for children in libraries, bookstores and daycares in Quebec since 2016 promises to have a flamboyant style.
“I can guarantee you that I don’t go through doorways, not because of my swollen head, she jokes, but really because of the costume and the headdress that I will have. I think we’re going to show that we’re making a big comeback, all in flamboyance and glitter, ”said the drag queen.
“Take the time to come and see”
Barbada notably succeeds Joannie Rochette, Vanessa Pilon, Ima, Marie-Mai and Marie-Ève Janvier who personified the Star Fairy during the last parades.
The fact that a drag performer this time interprets this imaginary figure has caused some misunderstanding and derogatory comments.
The main interested party seems to pay little attention to these reactions. She invites everyone to come and watch the parade before passing judgment.
“I can understand that it’s very different, but […] you are going to see that you are going to be very, very, very surprised and surprised at the magnitude that it has this year and what it also adds to have a drag queen, precisely the flamboyant side, ”supported the artist who hosts a youth program on Tou.tv.
According to Barbada, negative comments often come from people with a complete misunderstanding of the art of drag. As in the worlds of humor and song, there are different genres of drag queens that adapt according to the public, she pointed out.
The content of the remarks will be different from a conference in a library in front of young people to a performance offered in a bar to an adult audience, added the drag queen.
“You don’t agree with there being a drag in the Santa Claus parade? Take the time to come see the parade, to see how flamboyant, extravagant, super trippy it will be. Then after that, you will allow yourself to say; “Well, that was super cool, but I didn’t like it”. People have a right not to like it,” Barbada concluded.
The event, which celebrates its 70e year, will be broadcast the next day on the TVA channel.
This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.