A Visit to the Santa Claus Parade + How we Made Family Time a Little Sweeter! #BakeOn
This post is sponsored by Hershey – All opinions are my own.
One of the things I love the most about the holidays is that there are so many more activities to do together as a family. My family certainly enjoys the usual festivities like decorating the Christmas tree and baking cookies but this year we decided to try doing something new. 🙂
This past weekend, as part of our Christmas celebrations, I took my son Donnie to see the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade here in the city. Being the super energetic 3 year old that he is, Donnie was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement to see a real life parade – he'd only seen them on TV before and… to tell you the truth, I was just about as excited as he was! 🙂
Growing up back in New Brunswick, I had always watched the big parades on TV but never got to see one in person until this weekend – so yes, I absolutely was just as excited as my son! 🙂
You might chuckle when you read this because it does sound a little corny, but seeing a real parade in person with my son was almost a magical experience. There's just something so special about being able to experience something like this with my son for the first time together.
There were so many impressive floats and groups performing in the parade. My favorites have always been when the bagpipers come marching but Donnie especially enjoyed that pirate float!
Although it was such a chilly day outside, everyone still seemed full of the festive Holiday spirit! All along the parade route kids and people of all ages were laughing and enjoying the festivities. It truly was heartwarming to see so many genuinely happy people gathered together at the parade. 🙂
As we walked along the parade route, we noticed the delicious and familiar smell of fresh baked cookies getting stronger and stronger. What a yummy smell…
Just up ahead, we soon found out where this delicious smell was coming from!
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That amazing bakery smell was coming straight from the Hershey's Chipits truck!
The fantastic people at the Chipits truck were busy baking fresh cookies and chocolate brownies for everyone at the parade!
We always love cookies and other baked goodies, but these sweet treats were especially welcome on such a chilly day.
Seriously though, Donnie was beyond excited to get his hands on a delicious fresh and warm chocolate chip cookie from the truck.
I chose to try the chocolate brownies and my oh my…
They were so delicious and tasted just like homemade!
Just look at those chocolate chips top! Absolutely perfect…
And guess what?
| These Hershey's Chipits brownies are super easy to make at home – so you can whip them up in a jiffy this Holiday season for your guests or even as a treat for just you. 😉
Seriously, you've GOT to make these – click here to get the recipe! |
After taking a break to enjoy those delicious treats, it was time to watch for Santa himself to make his appearance at the end of the parade.
This year, I encourage you to visit any of your local Christmas Parades – big or small – you're going to have a blast! You might also want to bring some fresh home baked Chipits goodies with you to help make family time just a little sweeter!
You could even make some of these tasty brownies as a treat to leave for Santa when he visits on Christmas Eve – I'm sure he'd approve! 😉
Looks like such a fun parade! And those brownies omg how delicious!
I bet the kiddies really enjoy something like this. I have never been to a holiday parade before…for any holiday. That pirate float isreally cool.
what a fun experience… looks like a great time (parades are always awesome, just ask my kids : ) )
Looks like you had such a wonderful day. I love parades and those floats are amazing. Especially Santa’s.
I’m a chocolate chip cookie fan but the Mr. loves brownies, I might need to make both soon.
Those brownies look incredible. I will have to bake some soon.
That looks like a lot of fun. We had a holiday parade in our town not that long ago. Those treats look really good too!
I haven’t been to a live parade in a long time. I missed the one in Fort Worth this year because I never saw when it was going to be. They do it at night and use lights.
These parades are amazing. The floats are beautiful and colorful. Kids will have so much fun.
What an amazing time you all had at the parade. Those cookies look yummy!
Woah! This is so amazing.. It’s my first time to hear a truck handing out brownies with people on parade. Brilliant ideas.
I absolutely love parades! They are so fun to go to- all the various floats! Those brownies tooooooo! Yum!
Oooh I am having a staycation over Christmas and would love to try these brownies. Looks like you had a totally fun time and lots of cute pics, too.
This parade is everything. Those treats look so good and I would love to have visited that truck.
This looks like such a fun parade! We go to one in our town and it is a highlight for the kids. A brownie and cookie truck? I would love it!
How awesome! A brownie truck?! That is absolutely fantastic. I wish our parades had something like this.
Woo hoo! The only thing better than a parade is having delicious treats at the parade. This will be a lifelong memory, I’m sure.
It looks like you had an absolutely wonderful time! I love food we get to spend time just as a family doing fun things like this. Those brownies look so good.