Manchester’s magical Christmas Parade – THE heartwarming event of the festive season – is back for 2025 and set to delight children, families and anyone young at heart when it makes its way through the city’s streets on Sunday 7 December.
Now in its fourth year, the annual parade has been a festive favourite with Mancunians since first taking place in the city in December 2022 – and this year organisers are spreading the love and also giving community groups across the city a chance to join in and be part of the Christmas magic!
A call has gone out to community groups of all kinds to be part of the parade and play their part in helping fill the parade with Mancunian spirit, to help make the UK’s best Christmas Parade even more magical and amazing this year.
It promises to be jingle bells all the way on the day with a parade filled with music and laughter that will see the return of Manchester’s very own, spectacular Elf Express, complete with VIP passenger Santa hitching a ride on his way to the North Pole, together with his trusty team of elves.
Expect also 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.
Brand new also for this year 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 bring the ooos and aahs and have all the youngsters in the crowd wide-eyed with wonder.
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 sliding her way through the city streets.
Backed from start to finish with a seasonal soundtrack that will have everyone dancing, 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, 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: “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.”
This year’s Manchester Christmas Parade will follow a route that starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral:
Manchester Cathedral – Victoria Street – Deansgate – John Dalton Street – Cross Street – Market Street – St Mary’s Gate – Deansgate – Victoria Street – Manchester Cathedral
Exact timings of the parade will be confirmed nearer the parade date.
Community groups interested in taking part are asked to make contact with parade organisers via the following link: manchester.gov.uk/join-the-parade
Closing date for expressions of interest is Monday 27 October.
For more information about Christmas in Manchester visit manchester.gov.uk/christmas