Detours and See

Santa Claus Parades Across the Region

11 November 2026

Our Rudolph bus joins nine holiday parades across Niagara this season. Four parades also mean bus detours. Check your route before you ride.

Santa Claus Parades Across the Region

Niagara Transit is joining communities across the region this holiday season with our Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer bus, decorated by our maintenance team. Watch for us at nine parades, and give Rudolph a wave.

Some parades close roads that our buses use. If you are riding on a parade day in Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold or Port Colborne, check the detours below before you head out.

Where to see the Rudolph bus

Community Parade date Bus detours
Niagara FallsSaturday, November 14Yes
WellandSaturday, November 21Yes
Fort ErieSaturday, November 21No
ThoroldSaturday, November 28Yes
West LincolnSaturday, November 28No
GrimsbySaturday, December 5No
Port ColborneSaturday, December 5Yes
PelhamSaturday, December 12No
Niagara-on-the-LakeSaturday, December 12No

Parade day bus detours

Select a parade to see the detours. Expect delays on nearby routes while roads are closed.

Niagara Falls: Saturday, November 14

Detours are in effect for the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade. Start times vary by route.

Map of Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade bus detours. The parade runs along Victoria Ave and Queen St. Routes 102, 104, 108 and 115 detour around it, as described below.
Select the map to see a larger version.

Route 102

Detour starts: 11:45 a.m.

Buses will use Erie Ave, Park St, Victoria Ave, Maple St, 2nd Ave, Morrison St, Fourth Ave, Valley Way, and return to Stanley Ave.

Route 104/204

Detour starts: 2 p.m.

Buses will use Victoria Ave, Bender St, Palmer Ave, Bampfield St, River Rd, Bridge St, and Erie Ave.

The regular route runs until 2 p.m., except for these two stops, which will not be in service. Please use the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal instead.

  • Stop 6189: Queen St + Erie Ave
  • Stop 6725: Queen St + Zimmerman Ave

Route 108

Detour starts: Beginning of service

Buses will use Erie Ave, Park St, Zimmerman Ave, Bridge St, and River Rd.

Route 115

Detour starts: 11:45 a.m.

Buses will use Stanley Ave, Valley Way, Fourth Ave, Morrison St, 2nd Ave, Maple St, Victoria Ave, Bridge St, and Erie Ave.

When regular service resumes

Parade activities are expected to end at 6:30 p.m. Regular routing will resume by about 7 p.m., depending on road openings and cleanup.

Welland: Saturday, November 21

Detours are in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. East Main Street is closed from Wellington Street to City Hall (Cross Street).

Map of Welland Santa Claus Parade bus detours. The parade runs along East Main St. Routes 65, 70 and 508 use the Welland Bus Terminal. Routes 25, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 and 509 use the Welland Historical Museum on King St.
Select the map to see a larger version.

Important notes

  • Expect significant delays on all routes.
  • No bus service will cross East Main Street during the event.
  • Niagara Falls passengers: use Route 65 from Niagara College for downtown access.

Two transit hub locations

Welland Transit Terminal

  • Serving Routes 508, 65 and 75 only
  • Regular platform access

Temporary Museum Hub (140 King Street)

  • Open until 6 p.m. for transit customers
  • Serving Routes 25, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 and 509

Notice: during the Welland Santa Claus Parade, board Routes 25, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 and 509 at the Welland Historical Museum, 140 King St, temporary transit platform.

Seaway Mall passengers: use Route 508 or 70 for Terminal access, or Route 509 for Museum Hub connections.

Notice: during the Welland Santa Claus Parade, Route 509 Niagara St goes to the museum platform and connects to Routes 25, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506 and 509. Route 508 Woodlawn Rd goes to the bus terminal and does not connect to those routes.

Route 25 Port Colborne Link

Route 25 detour map

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. Right on Division St
  2. Right on Hellems Ave
  3. Right on Young St
  4. Left on King St
  5. Regular routing to Port Colborne

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to King St
  2. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 60

Route 60 detour map

Route 60 will not serve the Downtown Welland Terminal.

From the traffic circle at Highway 406 and East Main:

  1. Right on 406 North
  2. Left on Woodlawn Rd
  3. Right on First Ave
  4. Right on Niagara College Blvd

Route 65

Route 65 detour map, part 1

Route 65 detour map, part 2

From Niagara College:

  1. Right on First Ave
  2. Left on Woodlawn Rd
  3. Right on River Rd
  4. Right on Dorothy St
  5. Left into platform 504

From Terminal:

  1. Right on Dorothy St
  2. Left on River Rd
  3. Right on Woodlawn Rd
  4. Right on 406 South to roundabout
  5. Left on East Main Tunnel
  6. Regular route

Route 70

Route 70 detour map

From St. Catharines:

  1. Regular route to River Rd
  2. Right on Dorothy St
  3. Left into platform 503

Route 501 Broadway

Route 501 detour map

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Right on Division St
  3. Right on Hellems Ave
  4. Regular route

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular route to Museum Hub

Route 502 Rice Rd

Route 502 detour map

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Left on East Main St
  3. Regular route

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Division St
  2. Right on Hellems Ave
  3. Right on Griffith St
  4. Right on King St
  5. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 503 First Ave

Route 503 detour map

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Left on East Main St
  3. Regular route

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Division St
  2. Right on Hellems Ave
  3. Right on Griffith St
  4. Right on King St
  5. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 504 Fitch St

Route 504 detour map

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Left on East Main St
  3. Regular route

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Division St
  2. Right on Hellems Ave
  3. Right on Griffith St
  4. Right on King St
  5. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 505 Lincoln – Wellington

Route 505 detour map, part 1

Route 505 detour map, part 2

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Right on Division St
  3. Right on Hellems Ave
  4. Left on Victoria St
  5. Left on Burgar St
  6. Right on Hagar St
  7. Right on Wellington St

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Burgar St and Young St
  2. Left on Young St
  3. Left on Hellems Ave
  4. Right on Griffith St
  5. Right on King St
  6. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 506 Ontario

Route 506 detour map, part 1

Route 506 detour map, part 2

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Right on Division St
  3. Right on Hellems Ave
  4. Right on Young St
  5. Left on King St

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Burgar St and Young St
  2. Left on Young St
  3. Left on Hellems Ave
  4. Right on Griffith St
  5. Right on King St
  6. Ends at Museum Hub

Route 508 Woodlawn

Route 508 detour map

Outbound: Regular route

Inbound:

  1. From River Rd
  2. Right on Dorothy St
  3. Left into platform

Route 509 Niagara

Route 509 detour map, part 1

Route 509 detour map, part 2

Outbound from Museum Hub:

  1. North on King St
  2. Left on East Main St
  3. Regular route

Inbound to Museum Hub:

  1. Regular routing to Division St
  2. Right on Hellems Ave
  3. Right on Griffith St
  4. Right on King St
  5. Ends at Museum Hub
Thorold: Saturday, November 28

Detours are in effect from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Affected routes: 50, 55, 420 and 421.

Map of Thorold Santa Claus Parade bus detours. Routes 50, 55, 420 and 421 detour around the parade route, as described below.
Select the map to see a larger version.

Route 50

  1. Regular route to Pine St
  2. Right on Ormond St
  3. Left on St. Davids Rd
  4. Left on Pine St
  5. Pause at Pine Plaza if needed
  6. Right on Albert St
  7. Right on Queen St
  8. Left on St. Davids Rd
  9. Continue to Isaac Brock Way

Route 55

  1. From Isaac Brock Way, stay right on St. Davids Rd
  2. Right on Pine St
  3. Pause at Pine Plaza if needed
  4. Right on Albert St
  5. Right on Queen St
  6. Right on St. Davids Rd
  7. Right on Ormond St
  8. Left on Pine St
  9. Proceed on regular route

Route 420

Outbound:

  1. From Burleigh Hill, right on St. Davids Rd
  2. Left on Tupper Dr
  3. Right on McDonagh Cres
  4. Right on Tupper Dr
  5. Left on Richmond St
  6. Continue to St. Davids Rd and Front St
  7. Proceed along St. Davids Rd
  8. Left on Pine St
  9. Wait at Pine Street Plaza

Inbound:

  1. From Pine Plaza, right on Albert St W
  2. Resume regular route

Route 421

Outbound:

  1. From Pine Plaza, right on Albert St W
  2. Right on Queen St
  3. Left on St. Davids Rd
  4. Left on Tupper Dr
  5. Right on McDonagh Cres
  6. Right on Tupper Dr
  7. Resume regular route

Inbound:

  1. From Tupper Dr, left on McDonagh Cres
  2. Left on Tupper Dr
  3. Right on St. Davids Rd
  4. Right on Pine St
  5. Wait in front of Pine Plaza
Port Colborne: Saturday, December 5

Map of the Port Colborne Santa Claus Parade bus detour. Route 25 runs along Killaly St W and loops on King St, Elgin St and Elm St, with flag stops along Killaly St W and the loop. The parade runs on Steele St, Clarence St and Charlotte St.
Select the map to see a larger version.

Route 25

Route 25 will turn at Elgin St to loop around during the parade. Take note of the flag stop areas before the intersections.

Before you ride

  • Leave extra time. Road closures can slow buses on nearby routes too.
  • Check service alerts on our website for the latest updates on parade day.
  • Questions? Call us at 1-833-678-5463.

See you along the parade route. Happy holidays from all of us at Niagara Transit.

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