Santa's elves get sleigh ready for Saturday's parade

Carpenter Robert Deveauxis taking a break from his usual maintenance work with the City of Charlottetown.

For three straight days, he's holed up in the City of Charlottetown garagebuilding the float that will carry Santaand his reindeer through the streets of Charlottetown at 5 p.m. on Saturday evening.

• Charlottetown street closures, route announced for Christmas parade

Deveaux says unfortunately, the float has to be re-built every year. That's because it's on a flatbed trailer that's only available for a few days.

He said making his magictakes a lot of work.

"It all has to be re-skirted with plywood, and then we have to make a frame around it, put up the posters, and then getting all the reindeers on, and all the wiring hooked up."

Deveaux said it's important to make sure Santa arrives in the capital city in style.

"It's mainly for the kids. And the kids at heart. But the kids mainly. That's what they want to see is Santa Claus and the float."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Jonathan Torrens back home with latest hit, Taggert and Torrens podcast
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Buzz cut: P.E.I. barber wants to serve customers booze