Thousands of families filled the streets of Quebec City on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of La Parade des jouets, which featured seventeen illuminated floats and over four hundred artists under a red carpet theme.
The 25th Edition Reached a Record Fundraiser High
- The 25th edition took place on Saturday afternoon, November 14.
- Festivities included seventeen illuminated floats, sixty distinct tableaux, and more than four hundred participating artists.
- The virtual Christmas stocking 50/50 fundraiser raised nearly $18,000, marking a record high for the initiative.
Artists Prepared Expanded Productions for the Anniversary Parade
The parade route stretched from the intersection of 50th Street and 1st Avenue to Place Jean-Béliveau, drawing massive crowds along the way. Organizers designed a vastly expanded production for the anniversary milestone, incorporating circus arts, dance performances, and unique thematic tableaux.
Preparation for the grand spectacle required months of intensive labor inside local workshops. Le Soleil reported that sculptors, painters, and welders spent roughly six months building trailers from scratch and refreshing older creations that typically last five to six years.
| Parade Metric | Anniversary Details |
|---|---|
| Illuminated Floats | 17 |
| Participating Artists | Over 400 |
| Thematic Tableaux | 60 |
| 50/50 Virtual Fundraiser | Nearly $18,000 |
Musical Acts and Family Festivities Marked the Procession
Musical acts and local entertainment icons added star power to the anniversary procession. Singer-songwriter Pascale Picard performed live aboard a dedicated sugar shack float, while elements from the Quebec Issime production Décembre were also prominently featured. Early family festivities kicked off at 1.00 p.m. inside Chalet Trudel at Galeries Charlesbourg, offering warm beverages and traditional animations before the main procession began.
“Les commentaires qu’on reçoit jusqu’à maintenant sont très positifs. Pour plusieurs, c’est l’une des plus belles éditions qu’on ait présentées,” said Mireille Tremblay, general manager of the parade, in comments reported by FM93.
Spectators maintained a long-standing tradition by bringing new or gently used toys to donate to the volunteers of la Joujouthèque. Although exact final tallies were not yet available immediately following the event, organizers said that community generosity remained steadfast despite economic pressures. Over the course of its twenty-five-year history, the annual celebration has successfully distributed more than 36,000 toys to local families in need ahead of the holiday season.
