The magical Christmas Parade will return to the city centre streets in December, and new features will include a giant candycane castleManchester Christmas Parade will return for 2025(Image: Mark Waugh)

Manchester’s popular Christmas Parade, billed as “THE heartwarming event of the festive season” will return for 2025, with dates, route and details revealed today.

Now in its fourth year, the annual parade has been a festive favourite with Mancunians since first taking place in the city centre in December 2022.

In previous years the spectacular Christmas parade has featured life-sized festive animals, a toy procession, lollipop dancers, giant snails and of course Santa weaving their way along the city’s streets. And the council have said today that community groups will have the chance to take part this year as well.

The parade is set to be filled with music and laughter with 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.

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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, a 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.

The Christmas Parade will be back(Image: Mark Waugh)

Brand new also for this year will be the fantastic Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle – described as “truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams”.

Standing over three 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.

The date for this year’s Christmas Parade has been announced as Sunday, December 7, and is set to welcome thousands into the city, which will be in the midst of Manchester Christmas Markets season too.

See the Snow Queen on this year’s Mancheser Parade, on Sunday December 7(Image: Mark Waugh)

In past years it has set off at 12pm, but organisers say the exact timings of the 2025 parade will be confirmed nearer the parade date.

Backed from start to finish with a seasonal soundtrack, 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.

The council say families should watch out 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”.

Santa will be out on parade(Image: Mark Waugh)

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 organisers have also announced they want to “spread the love” and give 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 this year.

Christms puddings and baubles on parade(Image: Mark Waugh)

Community groups interested in taking part are asked to make contact with parade organisers via the council link here. Closing date for expressions of interest is Monday 27 October.

Christmas Parade Route

This year’s Manchester Christmas Parade will follow a route that starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral at the end of Deansgate on Sunday December 7.

People can view the parade along the full route which will take it along the following streets:-

Manchester Cathedral – Victoria Street – Deansgate – John Dalton Street – Cross Street – Market Street – St Mary’s Gate – Deansgate – Victoria Street – Manchester Cathedral.