Photos: Parade of Wonders becomes impromptu winter party after weather cancellation
Always a fan favourite, Spiderman poses at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. The parade was derailed this year, turning into an impromptu dance party after heavy snow turned the route in a combination of slick ice, slush, and snow. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
The long-awaited Parade of Wonders (POW!) was put off for another year, as Calgary was slammed by more spring snow Friday.
Still, that didn’t stop the spirit of the event from warming things up.
After a two-year hiatus, cosplayers braved the weather to gather at the parade’s 8 Street SW and 8 Avenue SW staging area.
News of the cancellation came after the original start time of 10 a.m., as weather conditions deteriorated further. Large sections of downtown Calgary became slick with ice and slush.
“Due to the large snowstorm in Calgary, and for the safety of everyone involved, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the POW! Parade of Wonders event this year,” wrote the Calgary Expo on social media.
Despite being unable to parade to the original opening ceremony location at Olympic Plaza, the Calgary Expo held an impromptu version with Mayor Jyoti Gondek declaring the Expo open. Mayor Gondek’s parade costume was a closely-guarded secret in the days leading up to the Expo.
The planned City of Calgary white hatting of Parade of Wonders director Allison Moore also went ahead.
Participants were treated to several renditions of movie themes, including Marvel’s The Avengers.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s surprise costume
Mayor Jyoti Gondek’s white rabbit costume for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. The parade was derailed this year, turning into an impromptu dance party after heavy snow turned the route in a combination of slick ice, slush, and snow. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
LiveWire Calgary also made a special Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo virtual action figure of Mayor Gondek. Her costume can be viewed in the embedded viewer below, but can also be viewed in augmented reality using the Scaniverse app on iPhones.
Within Scaniverse, click on the 3d box shape in order to view the virtual version of Mayor Gondek in augmented reality mode.
Photos from the cancelled parade
Cosplayers and musicians huddle under a dry overhang to avoid the snow at the staging area for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. The parade was derailed this year, turning into an impromptu dance party after heavy snow turned the route into a combination of slick ice, slush, and snow. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCalgary police traffic unit officers get snowed on at the staging area for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. The parade was derailed this year, turning into an impromptu dance party after heavy snow turned the route into a combination of slick ice, slush, and snow. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA cyclist braves the snow on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCosplayers take advantage of a UCalgary overhang to take photos at the staging area for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA little snow can’t stop the movie magic at the staging area for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCosplayers brave to snow to gather at the staging area for the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYAlways a fan favourite, Spiderman poses at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYCosplayers gather for a group photo at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYParade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. The parade was derailed this year, turning into an impromptu dance party after heavy snow turned the route into a combination of slick ice, slush, and snow. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYParade of Wonders participants braved the snow to watch and listen to a marching band play a rendition of the Avengers theme song on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYParade of Wonders director Allison Moore (right) is given the City of Calgary White Hat by Mayor Jyoti Gondek (left) on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYLet it snow at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA family of Lord of the Ring enthusiasts at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe North West Mounted Mandalorian at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYStone Cold snow April at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe Calgary Ghostbusters are here to proton and serve at the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYBowser gets snow broomed off during the Parade of Wonders on Friday, April 22, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
