Santa Claus has teamed up with the Big Lake Fire Department for a “just-in-time” parade in Big Lake. 

Today (Saturday, Dec. 19) Santa will be riding in a firetruck in a parade around the city of Big Lake, along with a police escort. Santa’s helpers will be collecting non-perishable food items along the route to donate to the Big Lake Food Shelf. Residents can simply leave food items by the street as the parade goes by.

The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Santa will head east from the fire station on Glenwood Ave., up Lake St. and Hill St. to Hiawatha Ave., around the lakes to Jefferson Blvd., then north on Lake St. to Minnesota Ave., and ending at the fire station again. Parade attendees who do not live along the route may want to view the parade from Lakeside Park.

Any person who cannot attend the parade, but still wishes to donate to the food shelf, may drop off items at the Big Lake Fire Station between noon and 2 p.m.

The parade was organized by the Big Lake Fire Auxiliary. They will also be helping two families in need by providing food for the holiday season. Families who applied were entered into a drawing in the beginning of November.