The countdown is on to this year’s iconic Manchester Christmas Parade – THE heartwarming event of the festive season for Mancunians and visitors alike, and taking place this weekend on Sunday 7 December.
Now in its fourth year the annual parade – delivered this year in celebration with Quooker – has been a festive favourite since it was first held in December 2022 and three years on has become an unmissable highlight of the countdown to Christmas in the city.
With brand-new, never-before-seen content for this year and even more community groups taking part than ever, the free family-friendly parade promises smiles, laughter, and jingle bells all the way to help get Manchester in the Christmas spirit.
Led by the fabulous Reindeer Ensemble, the parade will burst into life with a Christmas cracker’s worth of festive energy as the spectacular troupe of eight synchronised dancing reindeer with their polished moves and high-spirited performance style, engage the crowd and set the pace for a fun-filled parade through the city streets.
Also new for this year is the fantastic Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle – truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams. Standing over 4 metres tall and surrounded by giant candy cane stilt walkers and dancers, the whimsical fairytale turreted castle slowly rotates as it glides along and is sure to have the youngsters in the crowd ooo-ing and ahh-ing and wide-eyed with wonder.
Hot on the heels of the Candyland Castle (but thankfully not breathing fire!) will be a giant mythical dragon, swooping its way through the parade on the lookout for young princes and princesses to say hello to.
Look out also for a beautiful gigantic Polar Bear visiting Manchester for the first time, a stunning Arctic Fox, a pair of gentle giant-sized reindeer escorted by elves, and the biggest Christmas Tree Fairy you’ve ever seen who stands over 4 metres tall, as well as Jack Frost himself accompanied by a troupe of frosty dancers.
Keep an eye out too for the sensational sparkling glitter belles, the biggest dancing sprouts you’ve ever seen, the naughtiest full-of-mischief roaming Christmas tree, and two grumpy Grandads on wheels who will be doing their best to spoil the Christmas fun.
And of course it wouldn’t be the Manchester Christmas Parade without everyone’s favourite, the enchanting Snow Queen, mesmerising all as she sits inside her giant snow globe, as it twists and turns its way through the streets.
Bringing up the rear of this year’s magical parade will be Manchester’s very own spectacular Elf Express, returning to the city once again complete with none other than VIP passenger Santa – hitching a ride to the North Pole, together with his trusty team of elves.
The parade also sees ten different community groups from across the city each playing their part in the parade as musicians, dancers, or performers, following a callout that went to community groups earlier in the year.
Backed from start to finish with a seasonal soundtrack that is sure to have everyone dancing, the parade will 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 Fat Cat Brass with their four horn players and two stilt-walking drummers – as well as 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.
Watch out also on the day for plenty of pop-up festive fun around the city.
The city council is working with a range of partners including outdoor arts organisations Global Grooves, Walk the Plank, Handmade Parade, and Fools’ Paradise to help make sure that this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade is the best yet.
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!”
This year’s Manchester Christmas Parade has been sponsored by Quooker.
Stephen Johnson, Managing Director, Quooker UK & Ireland, said: “Manchester is our home. We built Quooker UK here from just a handful of people to a team of over 150, and our roots in this city mean everything to us. The Manchester Christmas Parade is one of those rare moments in the year where the whole community comes together – families, friends, visitors, all celebrating the joy and spirit of the city. We’re incredibly proud to support that.
“At Quooker, we believe in doing things properly and giving back to the place that has given us so much. It’s a privilege to help make this year’s parade even more special.”
Councillor Pat Karney said: “We want to say an enormous thank you to Quooker and to everyone else who is supporting this year’s Manchester Christmas Parade to help us make the magic happen. It’s a huge event in the city’s seasonal calendar – much loved and looked forward to by families and others of all ages and we simply couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for helping us make the city such an extra special place to be at this time of year – and Season’s Greetings one and all!”
This year’s parade will set off at 1 pm from Manchester Cathedral, following a circular route that ends back at the cathedral:
Manchester Cathedral – Victoria Street – Deansgate – John Dalton Street – Cross Street – Market Street – St Mary’s Gate – Deansgate – Victoria Street – Manchester Cathedral
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 the busiest sections of the parade route are likely to be Cross Street and St Mary’s Gate.
Find out more information about Christmas in Manchester