Everyday English · A Santa Claus parade and holiday market in a Greater Toronto Area town: getting there, watching the parade, shopping at stalls and staying warm.
Santa Claus Parade & Holiday Market: 14 Everyday English Words
Learn parade and holiday market words such as float, marching band, barricade, volunteer and vendor, then describe a winter outing in simple English.
What to do
Many towns in the Greater Toronto Area hold a Santa Claus parade in late November or December. Families walk or take a shuttle from the parking lot, then find a spot on the sidewalk. A barricade keeps cars off the parade route, so people can stand safely near the curb.
A large crowd waits in warm coats and mittens. Soon the marching band comes down the street, followed by floats covered in lights. Volunteers walk beside the parade to help, and everyone cheers when Santa arrives at the end.
After the parade, many families visit a holiday market. Vendors sell treats and gifts from stalls under a canopy. A cup of hot chocolate feels good on a cold day. Some events also ask people to make a donation to a food drive.
This is a general picture of a typical outing, not one real town. Details such as dates, routes and rules are different in every community, so families should check the town's own notices. You do not need to memorise every word today. You will meet them again in other lessons.
Core everyday words
parade
noun · puh-RAYDa line of people, bands and decorated vehicles moving down a street for people to watch
Example: The Santa Claus parade starts at noon.
parade route
noun phrase · puh-RAYD rootthe streets the parade will travel along
Example: The parade route goes down Main Street.
float
noun · flotea decorated platform on wheels that is pulled or driven in a parade
Example: The best float had a giant snowman on it.
marching band
noun phrase · MAR-ching banda group of musicians who play instruments while they walk
Example: The marching band played holiday songs.
crowd
noun · krowda large group of people in one place
Example: A big crowd waited along the street.
curb
noun · kurbthe edge of the sidewalk next to the road
Example: Children sat on the curb to watch.
barricade
noun · BAIR-ih-kayda barrier set up to keep people or cars out of an area
Example: A barricade stops cars from driving on the parade route.
volunteer
noun · vol-un-TEERa person who helps for free because they want to
Example: A volunteer in an orange vest pointed us to the shuttle.
hot chocolate
noun phrase · hot CHOK-lita warm drink made with chocolate and milk
Example: I held a cup of hot chocolate in both hands.
mittens
noun · MIT-unzwarm coverings for your hands with one space for the thumb and one for the fingers
Example: Put on your mittens. It is cold out.
vendor
noun · VEN-dura person who sells things at a stand or table
Example: The vendor sold maple fudge at the market.
canopy
noun · KAN-uh-peea cover over a stall that keeps off rain and snow
Example: Each stall has a white canopy.
shuttle
noun · SHUT-ula bus that carries people a short distance between two places
Example: A free shuttle takes people from the parking lot to the parade.
donation
noun · doh-NAY-shunsomething you give to help other people
Example: I put a donation in the box.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning of the word.
1. What is a parade route?
- a list of songs the band plays
- the streets the parade will travel along
- the place where the floats are built
- the tickets people need to watch
2. What is a float in a parade?
- a bus that takes people to the parking lot
- a drink served in a paper cup
- a person who plays in the band
- a decorated platform on wheels
3. What does a barricade do?
- It keeps people or cars out of an area.
- It sells hot food to the crowd.
- It plays music for the parade.
- It gives out free gifts.
4. Who is a volunteer?
- someone who is paid to drive the shuttle
- someone who helps for free because they want to
- someone who sells things at a stall
- someone who marches in the band
5. What is a canopy at a market stall?
- a cover over the stall that keeps off rain and snow
- a table where the food is cooked
- a bag for carrying gifts
- a sign that shows the price
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Pick the word that fits the sentence.
6. “A free ___ takes people from the parking lot to the parade.”
- float
- canopy
- shuttle
- mittens
7. “It is snowing, so put on your ___.”
- barricade
- vendor
- crowd
- mittens
8. “The ___ at the market sold maple fudge and cookies.”
- vendor
- curb
- donation
- marching band
9. “A big ___ lined the street to watch Santa.”
- volunteer
- crowd
- route
- canopy
Quick-check answers
- 1. the streets the parade will travel along
The route is the path the parade follows, so people know where to stand. A song list, a workshop and tickets are not paths. - 2. a decorated platform on wheels
A float is a decorated platform on wheels that is pulled or driven in the parade. The other choices are a shuttle, a drink and a musician, which can all be near a parade but are not floats. - 3. It keeps people or cars out of an area.
A barricade is a barrier, often set across a road. Selling, music and gifts are things people do, not what a barrier does. - 4. someone who sells things at a stall
A volunteer helps without being paid. A seller is a vendor, and a paid driver or a band member has a different role. - 5. a table where the food is cooked
A canopy is the roof-like cover above a stall. A table, a bag and a sign are other things you might see there, but they do not cover the stall. - 6. shuttle
A shuttle is a bus that carries people a short distance. A float is in the parade, a canopy covers a stall and mittens are worn on hands. - 7. mittens
Mittens keep your hands warm. A barricade, a vendor and a crowd cannot be put on. - 8. vendor
A vendor sells things. A curb is an edge, a donation is something given and a band plays music. - 9. crowd
A crowd is a large group of people. A volunteer is one person, and a route and canopy are not groups of people.