Following two fabulous festive years, the Christmas Parade is set to return to Manchester city centre once again this weekend. 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 Fools Paradise, the city’s Christmas Parade promises to delight both young and old audiences.
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 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 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.
Accessible viewing areas will be set up in two locations:
- Accessible viewing area 1 – Extended lay-by outside Roxy Ball Room and Be At One venues on Deansgate.
What3Words app: galaxy.cats.limit - Accessible viewing area 2 – Benches outside Boots on Cross Street.
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What to expect at this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade
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 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. Watch out also on the day for plenty of pop-up festive fun around the city.
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.
Which roads and tram stops will be closed for the parade?
Road closures
Sunday 8 December from 8am to 5pm
- Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
- Market Street (Cross Street to Exchange Street)
- St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
- Cateaton Street (Deansgate to Exchange Square)
Sunday 8 December 11.00am to 3pm
- Victoria Bridge Street (Chapel Street to Deansgate)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to John Dalton Street)
- John Dalton Street (Southgate to Clarence Street)
- Cross Street (John Dalton Street to Corporation Street)
Metrolink Suspension
From 12pm to 2.30pm Sunday 8 December
2CC (St Peter’s Square to Exchange Square) suspended Parking
Suspensions and Exemptions
From 6pm on Friday 6 December to 5pm on Sunday 8 December
- Market Street (outside Marks and Spencer’s) – One Bay Only
From 6pm on Saturday 7 December to 5pm on Sunday 8 December
- Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
- Cateaton Street (Deansgate to Exchange Square)
- St Ann Street (Southgate to Cross Street)
- Deansgate (Victoria Street to John Dalton Street)
- John Dalton Street (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’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
- King Street West (Deansgate to Bridge Street)
How will this year’s parade differ to last year’s?
Adding to the festive fun this year’s parade also features Ski Sunday as one-of-a-kind 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.