Santa will return to the Hat for traditional Toy Run this weekend

By BRENDAN MILLER on September 12, 2025.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

Once again, the jolly man himself will take some time away from the North Pole to visit Medicine Hat and its hundreds of helpers on motorcycles Saturday during the 39th annual Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund Toy Run.

This year more than 1,000 motorcyclists and participants are anticipated to rev up their engines and hit the highway in southern Alberta during the large toy and gift fundraising event for underprivileged children and families this Holiday Season.

“One-hundred per cent of every dollar we earn at this event and every toy goes directly to the Santa Claus Fund,” says Heather McCaig, spokesperson. “All of the donations and everything goes to make sure that every cent raised is actually something that is going to go to the children of Medicine Hat.”

The Toy Run will begin with a pancake breakfast at the Irvine Hotel at 9 a.m. followed by an 11:30 a.m. departure along the Trans-Canada toward the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede grounds.

One lane of traffic will be closed for the parade and one lane will remain open for other motorists.

McCaig expects riders will make the turn in toward the Stampede grounds near the Medicine Hat Lodge at noon, and spectators are encouraged to witness the parade of cyclists with toys and hear the roar of hundreds of bikes along Dunmore Road.

“Please bring your family out to the parade route and watch. It’s something to see 1,000 motorcycles heading down that highway and heading through Dunmore Road,” she said. “And we really want to encourage people to make sure they adjust their pans accordingly.”

Around noon, intersections along Dunmore Road will temporarily close to allow safe passage of the Toy Run.

The event will wrap up with a community barbecue and toy drive outside Higdon Hall with Santa on his motorcycle, not his sleigh.

The wrap-up event will also include beer gardens, a 50/50 raffle, silent action with several donation items from community members and local businesses,as well as the band Don’t Tell Mama, which will ravel from Lethbridge to perform.

The annual toy drive motorcycle parade, along with several other community initiatives and donations, allows the Santa Claus Fund to continue to provide low-income families toys and more for their children during the Holidays, plus a gift card for groceries to ensure they can enjoy a full Holiday meal.

Due to the generosity of the community, the Santa Claus Fund was able to provide a better Christmas season to more than 1,200 children and more than 900 families.

“And those kinds of things cannot be done without the donations of people in Medicine Hat and the area that steps up every year for this event,” said McCaig. “The riders kick off that Christmas giving season for the Santa Claus Fund, and it’s just so appreciated.”

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