Manchester City Council has confirmed that the magical Christmas Parade will be making a return for the festive season once more this December. Now in its fourth year, the annual parade has been a festive favourite with Mancunians and will once again delight children, families and anyone young at heart when it makes its way through the city’s streets.
What is the Manchester Christmas Parade?
The parade sees roaming puppets and illuminated acts take to the city’s main shopping streets in the lead up to Christmas. Manchester Christmas parade is organised by Manchester City Council with a range of partners, including outdoor arts organisations Global Grooves, Walk the Plank, Handmade Parade, and Fools’ Paradise and will consist of a spectacular procession of Christmas-themed acts, including runaway Christmas presents, Jack Frost, Snow Queens – Santa himself, and lots more.
When and where will the parade take place?
Bigger and even better than last year, the parade will weave its way through the city streets on December 7. 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. Exact timings of the parade will be confirmed nearer the parade date.
Jingle bells all the way: what to expect at this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade
This year’s Manchester Christmas Parade promises to be jingle bells all the way on the day. With a parade filled with music and laughter, it will feature Manchester’s very own Elf Express, complete with VIP passenger Santa hitching a ride on his way to the North Pole, together with his trusty team of elves.
Attendees can also expect to see Nutcracker-inspired Toy Soldiers sweeping their way through the parade on segways, whilst happy to stop and pose for saluting selfies, the naughtiest full-of-mischief roaming Christmas tree, a pair of gentle giant-sized reindeer escorted by elves, a stunning Artic Fox, and Jack Frost himself, accompanied by a troupe of frosty dancers. And of course it wouldn’t be the Manchester Christmas Parade without everyone’s favourite, the enchanting Snow Queen, mesmerising all as she sits in her giant snow globe.
The parade will also feature live music from the likes of the Bloco Band blasting out the Christmas classics, the Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band playing tunes with a Christmassy twist, and more. Plus, spectatators will have the chance to sing along 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.
What’s new for this year’s parade?
Brand new for this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade will be the fantastic Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle – truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams. Standing over 3 metres tall and surrounded by candy canes, the whimsical fairytale turreted castle slowly rotates as it glides along and is sure to wow audiences.
“There’s nowhere that does Christmas quite like Manchester.”
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: “There’s nowhere that does Christmas quite like Manchester and our Christmas Parade has fast become a favourite in the city’s festive calendar with Mancunians and visitors of all ages.
“Seeing the joy and wonder on the faces of everyone as they watch the parade would melt even the hardest of hearts and this year we’re going all out to put on an unmissable parade that makes memories for children and families that last a lifetime.”
Community groups interested in taking part are asked to make contact with parade organisers via the following link here. Closing date for expressions of interest is Monday 27th October.