Manchester City Council has confirmed that the magical Christmas Parade will be making a return for the festive season once more this weekend. 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. Setting off at 1pm from Manchester Cathedral and finishing there, the parade will take to the Manchester streets, including Victoria Street, Deansgate, John Dalton Street, Cross Street, Market Street and St Mary’s Gate.
There will be two accessible viewing areas available on a first-come basis – one on Cross Street (outside Boots) and one on Deansgate (outside House of Fraser). People coming into the city centre for the parade should note that the busiest sections of the parade route are likely to be Cross Street and St Mary’s Gate.
To ensure that the parade can pass safely through the streets of Manchester, tram services will not stop at Exchange Square between 12pm and 2.30pm. Trams will instead divert via Market Street and Shudehill.
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.
Which roads will be closed for the parade?
Road closures
Sunday 7 December
8am to 5pm
- Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
- Cateaton Street (Deansgate to Exchange Square)
11am to 3pm
- Victoria Bridge Street (Chapel Street to Deansgate)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to John Dalton)
- John Dalton (Southgate to Clarence Street)
- Cross Street (John Dalton to Corporation Street)
- Market Street (Cross Street to Exchange Street)
- St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
11am to 6pm
- St Ann’s Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
When and where will parking, bus lanes and taxi ranks be suspended for the parade?
Parking Suspensions
From 6pm on Saturday 6 December to 5pm on Sunday 7 December:
- Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
- Cateaton Street (Deansgate to Exchange Square)
- St Ann’s Street ( Deansgate to Cross Street)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to John Dalton Street)
- John Dalton (King Street West to Clarence Street)
- Cross Street (John Dalton Street to Corporation Street)
- Market Street (Cross Street to St Mary’s Gate)
- St Mary’s Gate (Market Street to Deansgate)
- St James Square (John Dalton to South King Street)
- King Street West (Deansgate to Bridge Street)
- St Mary’s Street (Southgate to Deansgate)
- Ridgefield (King Street to End)
- South King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate)
- Tib Lane (Essex Street to End)
- Clarence Street (Kennedy Street to Princess Street)
- King Street (Essex Street to Cross Street)
- Princess Street (Cross Street to Cooper Street)
Bus Lane Suspensions
From 8am to 8pm on Sunday 7 December:
- Deansgate
- Princess Street
- King Street
Taxi Ranks
These streets are inaccessible between 11am to 2pm on Sunday 7 December:
- Cross Street (outside Royal Exchange)
- Cross Street (outside Timpsons)
- King Street West (outside House of Fraser)
- Deangate (outside KFC)
- St Mary’s Gate (North and South Side)
- Blackfriars (outside Tree House Hotel)
“There’s nowhere that does Christmas quite like Manchester.”
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “Manchester is one hundred per cent the best city in the world when it comes to celebrating the festive season. There is nowhere that does Christmas quite like we do, and our iconic Christmas Parade has been a big part of our celebrations over the last three years, helping make magical memories for thousands upon thousands of Mancunians.
“It’s the heartwarming event of the season and our special Christmas gift to the city. Grab your Santa hat and some tinsel and come down and join us. Don’t miss it!”
