Following a fabulous festive first last year, the Christmas Parade is set to return to Manchester city centre once again for 2023. Filled with all the sights, sounds and sparkle that spell Christmas will weave its way through the streets of the city centre as part of the magical parade, to help bring some extra special Christmas cheer to the city.
Building on the success of the city’s world-famous Manchester Day Parade which after starting small for its first parade back in 2010 now regularly sees thousands of people flock to the city centre to watch it, the inaugural Manchester Christmas Parade will return this December. Working in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and outdoor art experts including Walk the Plank, Global Grooves, Handmade Parade and others, the city’s Christmas Parade promises to delight both young and old audiences.
What is the Manchester Christmas Parade?
The parade is part of Manchester BID’s Festive Sundays series, which sees roaming puppets and illuminated acts take to the city’s main shopping streets, every Sunday in the lead up to Christmas. On one of the four Festive Sundays, a Christmas parade organised by Manchester City Council takes place 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 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 3. Starting from Manchester Cathedral and taking in Deansgate, St Ann’s Street, Cross Street, Corporation Street and Fennel Street, where the parade will end.
The Manchester Christmas Parade is expected to last up to an hour from start to finish. There will be an accessible viewing point for anyone who needs it outside Boots on Cross Street – with spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Which roads will be closed for the parade?
As well as a Metrolink tram suspension of the Second City Crossing route (St Peter’s Square, Princess Street, Albert Square, Cross Street and Corporation Street) between 12 noon and 2.30pm on Sunday, there will be on-street parking suspension on the following streets:
From 6pm on Friday 1 December until 6pm on Sunday 3 December:
Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
From 6pm on Saturday 2 December until 6pm on Sunday 3 December:
Market Street and St Mary Gate (Cross Street to Deansgate)
Deansgate ( Victoria Street to John Dalton)
St Ann’s Street (St Mary’s Street to Cross Street)
Cross Street (Albert Square to Market Street)
Corporation Street (Cross Street to Ring Road)
Cateaton Street (All)
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street)
St Mary’s Street (Deansgate to Southgate)
Road closures from 8am until 5pm Sunday 3 December:
Victoria Street
Road closures from 11am until 2.30pm Sunday 3 December:
Cateaton Street (Deansgate to End)
St Mary Gate (Cross Street to Deansgate)
Deansgate ( Victoria Street to John Dalton)
St Ann’s Street (St Mary’s Street to Cross Street)
Cross Street (Albert Square to Market Street)
Corporation Street (Market Street to Fennel Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street)
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square)
What to expect at this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade
Think Snow Queens, Bouncing Elves and sparkling Christmas Glitter Belles, with an extra sprinkle of Candy Cane stilt walkers, Giant Nutcracker characters and Dancing Snowmen, all taking to the city streets alongside Reindeer, Owls and Festive Dinosaurs, as well as everyone’s Christmas dinner favourite Dancing Sprouts – and suddenly once again it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Of course, no Christmas parade would be complete without the big red man himself and we’ve been promised by Santa Claus that he will definitely be taking some time out from his busy toy-making schedule to come to his favourite Christmas city and join in. And making sure it’s jingle bells all the way with live music, moves, and sounds will be the Global Grooves Nutcracker Bloco Band playing Santa’s favourite Christmas songs to get everyone in the festive mood, along with dancers dressed in their sparkly best Christmas kit.
How will this year’s parade differ to last year’s?
Adding to the festive fun this year’s parade also features local school children who have taken part in ‘make and move’ workshop sessions to design and create some incredible parade-worthy Christmas trees and stars to show off in the parade using all the moves they’ve learned.
An extra special treat has also been lined up as part of the parade in collaboration with The Lowry and will see a special appearance from the star of the hit play Life of Pi which is at The Lowry from December 5, 2023 to January 7, 2024. Families won’t want to miss catching a glimpse during the parade of ‘Richard Parker’, the life-size Bengal Tiger puppet featured in the show who will be appearing in the Manchester Christmas Parade, ahead of Life of Pi‘s arrival at the theatre for the festive season.