The first Cactus Festival lasted nine days and began with a parade. Although the parade was discontinued for a few years, it resumed in the early 1990’s to launch the annual August Dundas Cactus Festival on Thursday evening at 6:45 pm. Every year crowds line the streets of downtown Dundas to watch as the various floats, bands, performers and local participants march by, providing a full evening of entertainment for the entire family.
Parade sponsors are recognized throughout the parade, and volunteers walk with the parade collecting a “Toonies for Tunes” to help to defray the cost of hiring the excellent calibre of entertainment that makes the parade an annual success. The Parade was Incorporated in 2007 & continues to grow.
2007 marked the year that the Dundas Cactus Parade officially formed as its own entity: Dundas Cactus Parade Inc. We invite you to join our team and continue the tradition of the annual Cactus Parade for many years to come.
Beyond the Stars started off with Trilogy of Pipe Bands, Dundas Grimsby & Hamilton Pipes 163 & two trishaws honoring four Dundas citizens in Sue Preston, Lori Eisenberger, Clare Crozier & Gary Caldwell in the 48th Dundas Cactus Parade.
Excited participants and a dedicated team of volunteers worked together to make a fun Parade for the 1000’s of people along the route in spite of the threat of thunderstorms.
On behalf of the Dundas Cactus Parade Committee I extend our sincere thanks to all participants, volunteers, marshals, escorts, judges, security, banner carriers, photographers Community of Dundas / City of Hamilton work crews, the police, and Dundas businesses.
Special thanks to Ruthlyn, Costas, Lucas, Rita May, Brian, Kelsey, Dan, Nick, Duncan, Sue, Eileen, Marissa, Paul, Will, Matthew, Atticus, Augustus, & Wulf for all their efforts in preparation of this much loved community event.
Thank you to WPE, Grisdales, and Hamilton Conservation for their continued support as well as the Dofasco Orange Team plus Larissa Adnitt and all the enthusiastic Columbia College students that carried the banners in the Parade.
Special thanks to John Borer for organizing those beautiful percheron horses although they had to withdraw due to the pending weather.
Thank you to Milica, Steve, Stan & the Team of Toonie Collectors plus the Real McCoys, and to everyone for their generous donations. The Toonies collected help pay the great bands that join us each year in the Parade. Covid is still impacting bands, but they assure us they will be back next year!
Thank you to all of our sponsors and donors, and to Craig Campbell for their generous and continued support.
See you in 2024 for the 49th anniversary of this event.
We are entering a time of transition and welcome new volunteers to join us and shape the future of the Parade. Please send us an email dundascactusparade@gmail.com to discuss how you can be involved.
