When you head out to this year’s Help Santa Toy Parade, be sure to bring your booties, a warm toque and . . . supper?

This is the parade’s 40th anniversary and in its ruby year the parade has a new route and a new time – 6 in the evening on Saturday, Dec.  5.

The bands, floats, clowns, and, of course, the big guy himself will also be abandoning the traditional Bank Street route in favour of a mostly Wellington Street jaunt from the Canadian War Museum to City Hall.

Construction along Bank Street forced the change in route. Santa was not available for comment on the changes.

The Fire Fighter’s Association says it will only be accepting donations of new toys because past years have seen far too many unsuitable used toys being handed over.

Their website says that anybody with used toys can drop them at the Salvation Army.

Fire stations will also be accepting new toys between Nov.  21 and Dec. 19.