The Light Up Bedford Parade is now in its 12th year and parade committee volunteers are busy getting organized.

This smaller, but just as festive and bright cousin to the Halifax parade, has become a special tradition to many families in Bedford and surrounding communities.

The Light Up Bedford Parade will start at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, November 22. Floats leave the Atlantic Superstore/Bedford Place Mall parking lot and proceed down the Bedford Highway to DeWolfe Park.

Be sure to secure your spot early and enjoy one of our Entertainment Spots that will feature local talent.

Once the parade ends head down to the waterfront park where local talent will lead a carol singalong with the annual tree lighting ceremony.

The Bedford Volunteer Firefighters will be bringing Santa down for a visit too so don’t forget your letters!

The major purpose of the parade is to bring the community together for a festive evening to jump-start the holidays and raise money for the “Turkey Club Society”. The Turkey Club Society is a volunteer group committed to raising funds to support charitable organizations in HRM so that families who are less fortunate are able to enjoy a Christmas dinner and a brighter holiday season.

The 2007 parade raised over $3000 for the “Turkey Club Society”. Representatives from the Turkey Club will be collecting money (NO FOOD) along the route and at the entertainment spots so we ask everyone to bring a Loony, Toonie or whatever you can afford to help out the needy at this difficult time of year.

In 2007 (last year’s parade was cancelled due to bad weather) an estimated crowd of between 12,000 and 15,000 lined the Bedford Highway from Bedford Place Mall to DeWolfe Park to watch 30 fabulous floats. Prior to the parade, many people enjoyed the “Entertainment Spots” that featured local talent and cups of hot chocolate.