Christmas Cart Parade set for next weekend

The 10th Annual Toy Drive and Christmas Parade, a holiday tradition in Canyon Lake, will take to the streets next weekend, Dec. 6. The annual event is sponsored by The Street Carts of Canyon Lake Club, which combines the parade with a huge Toy Drive. In fact, to drive a cart in the parade requires an entry fee of one new toy.

The Toy Drive portion of the event is already underway and won’t end until Dec. 16.

The carts that participate in the parade range in decorations from simple bows and garland to elaborate carts where the cart is barely visible. Anybody in Canyon Lake who owns a cart can participate in the parade.

The Street Carts Club is much more than a group of people with golf carts. Its values are based on the notion of families helping families while emphasizing the neighborly values in Canyon Lake, club officials said.

Everyone is encouraged to donate to the toy drive. The donated new and unwrapped toys can be dropped off in a drop box at 22055 Mustang Court from now until Dec 16. The toy box is checked daily and the toys will be distributed through Calvary Chapel Canyon Hills Food Pantry. Toys can also be dropped off at Eastport Park at the conclusion of the parade.

Monetary donations are also being solicited. For those wishing to make these donations, they can call Mike Shroyer, the president and founder of Street Carts of Canyon Lake, at 951-244-6461.

Unlike the previous nine parades, this year will not include any gatherings at the conclusion of the parade and will not have an awards ceremony. The awards, instead, will be announced online. Trophies will be awarded to the best-decorated carts in the categories of Best Theme, Best Light Display and Clark Griswold Award for most outrageous. Winners will be announced online.

The Street Carts of Canyon Lake invites residents to decorate a golf cart and participate in the parade. The parade will begin on Bluebird Street, where check in time starts at 4:00 p.m. All carts are welcome to join the parade, but participants need to sign a waiver for entry. These waiver entry forms can be found at the Canyon Lake POA office, the POA website or by requesting one by emailing djgoodtime85@gmail.com.

There are several rules on the waiver form that must be followed, including the requirement that each cart carry a fire extinguisher.

The parade will then officially begin at 5:00 p.m. The parade will traverse the entire distance of Canyon Lake Drive and end at Eastport Park. Due to social distancing guidelines, there will not be any in-person activities taking place afterwards.

There will be no street parking on Canyon Lake Drive South/North (adjacent to the parade route) on Dec. 6 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vehicles and golf carts may park on the opposite side of the street or on side streets during this time frame.

During the parade (approximately 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) vehicle traffic will be reduced to 5 MPH and vehicle traffic will not be permitted to pass the parade.

Due to the event being in the evening, and for the safety of the spectators and participants, there will be no distributing of any items such as candy or promotional items on the parade route.