As Manchester Christmas Parade returns to the city for its third year this Sunday (December 8), organisers have announced an extra special treat for attendees with a chance to claim a free festive hot drink. Ho-ho-however there is one condition in order to claim your free festive drink this weekend…
Manchester City Council is calling all Santas out there to pay the Christmas parade an early visit with the first 1,500 people to show up wearing either their finest full Santa suit, or a Santa hat, being treated to a free festive hot drink. Adding to the seasonal cheer will be The Royal Exchange Manchester Christmas Choir who will be performing at various times throughout the morning in the Arcade, which runs between Cross Street and St Ann’s Square.
Arrive early for the Manchester Christmas Parade and from 12.30pm those same cheeky elves will also be making mischief along the parade route to get everyone smiling as they help spread a little extra Christmas fun, with goodies and giveaways galore ahead of the parade at 1pm.
How to claim your free festive drink at Manchester Christmas Parade
On Manchester’s very own ‘Santa Sunday’, the first 1,500 people to pay a visit ahead of the parade to the Christmas Grotto in the Royal Exchange Arcade, dressed head-to-toe as Santa or at least sporting a Santa hat, will be given a voucher for a hot chocolate winter-warmer from the Christmas Markets. To be in with a chance of a free hot chocolate – while stocks last – Santa wannabes must present themselves between 10.30am and 12.30pm with a ho-ho-ho to (the real) Santa’s team of mischievous cheeky elves at the Grotto, who will be playing around getting everyone in the festive spirit.
When and where the Manchester Christmas Parade take place?
Bigger and even better than last year with over 400 participants, the parade will weave its way through the city streets, beginning at 1pm on December 8. Starting from and finishing at Manchester Cathedral, the parade will take to the Manchester streets including Victoria Street, Deansgate, John Dalton Street, Cross Street, Market Street and St Mary’s Gate.
What to expect at this year’s parade
This year’s unmissable parade promises even more festive fun for families, sprinkling pure festive magic along the way and guaranteed to melt even the hardest of hearts. With live music bringing the sounds of the season and colourful dancers at every turn, the centre-piece of this year’s parade is sure to be Manchester’s very own Elf Express – a spectacular train with carriages full of elves that will be making a special stop in Santa’s favourite city on its way to Santa’s workshop in the North Pole.
Look out too for the Mistletoe dancing mice, Christmas horse-riding Elves on stilts, an oversized Polar Bear with playful giant paws and Christmas Robins, or the Aurora Borealis Stilt Walkers, Robot Drummers and toe-tapping Hip Hop Elf. And check out Ski Sunday as segway skiers swoop and slide along the parade route, donned in vibrant retro ski gear, complete with cheeky personalities and blasting out 80s tunes and festive Christmas classics, creating an illusion of downhill fun in a flurry of entertainment!
Families will also be amazed by the spellbinding and beautiful airborne puppetry of Cloud Travellers Nimbus and Cumulus who from their illuminated clouds cast magical raindrops from the tips of their fingers, and enjoy a singalong with Elton Wrong piano man as he rides along on his portable stadium stage whilst playing the piano and crooning his way through his top ten of pop hits and show tunes.
And of course it wouldn’t be the Manchester Christmas Parade without the return of everyone’s favourite, the enchanting Snow Queen mesmerising all as she sits in her giant snow globe gliding through the city streets.