Scotia plans Holiday Procession through neighborhoods

Santa gets a ride with Classic Carriage of Johnstown at the village of Scotia's 21st annual Holiday on the Avenue in 2017.

SCOTIA — This Sunday, Dec. 6, would normally be Scotia’s Holiday on the Avenue celebration, with a parade on Mohawk Avenue and dozens of street and business activities.

But this year, with mass gatherings considered unsafe because of COVID-19, there will instead be a “Holiday Procession” through the downtown and village neighborhoods, starting at about 2 p.m. and continuing through roughly 4:30 p.m.

The parade, which will not be stopping at any locations, will include the village police and fire departments, the parks and public works departments, and First National Bank of Scotia. Village Special Events Committee members, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and a musical group, The Breakdowns, will also be participating, organizers said.

Organizers said they can’t say exactly when the parade will be at any specific location, but it will begin at the First National Bank of Scotia, and first visit neighborhoods south of Mohawk Avenue. The event will conclude with a tree lighting on the Village Green. Live updates will be available on Facebook at @HolidayontheAvenueScotiaNY.

Throughout December, Hoskinson Orthopedics, Cerniglia Chiropractic, Storied Coffee and Weird-o Comics and Collectibles will have letters for Santa that children can take home and decorate. A North Pole mailbox will be located on the Village Green.