Over the past few weeks, local community groups throughout Swansea have been eagerly sending in their ideas for festive floats and walking processions, in the hope of joining Father Christmas and being a part of this year’s Christmas Parade and Light Switch on.
Five community groups have now been chosen from the large number of applicants to take part in the float procession, along with an additional four groups, who will be dressing up in a variety of colourful and creative costumes to delight and entertain the crowds.
Special Events Officer Dave Price Deer commented, “There are some exciting and unusual ideas that have been put through this year. We have selected the most creative applicants and it will be great to see what they come up with.”
“The Christmas Parade and Light Switch On is a fantastic family night out and a perfect start to Swansea’s Christmas Events programme.”
Those selected to represent their local community or school group for the parade this year include Waun Wen Primary who will be bringing a flavour of the east to Swansea by reflecting the spectacular Beijing Olympics in a Chinese themed float.
Port Tenant Colts Under 7’s will be celebrating a ‘Disney Christmas’ with Mickey, Pluto and your favourite Disney Characters, and Swansea Children’s Centre will be ‘Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree’ in this festive and colourful yuletide celebration.
Come and watch as Daleks, K9 and Dr Who get into the Christmas spirit with Bonymaen Kids Initiative and you can also join the Parish of Cockett as they complete the community floats with their ‘Traditional Nativity’.
As well as the fantastic float displays, the parade will be joined by a number of community walking processions. Members from the BikeAbility group will become ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ for this special event, dressing up as elves and reindeer and decorating their range of disability bikes and wheelchairs with gifts and festive tinsel.
To add a splash of dance to the parade, Aziza Belly Dancers will be shaking their way through the city streets, creating a perfect buzzing, carnival atmosphere.
Other walking processions include City Temple, who will be celebrating ‘Christmas – Many People, One Celebration’
Supporters of this years Christmas Parade and Light Switch On, The Wave and Swansea Sound, will be awarding a fabulous prize of £1000 cash for the best decorated float, along with £250 for the best walking procession.
Photos of all the community groups will be taken throughout the parade and published in the Evening Post and on The Wave and City and County websites, allowing people to vote for their favourite. The community groups with the most votes will win the top cash prizes.
There will also be a chance to catch a glimpse of other floats along the way with Waterfront Winterland, The Evening Post, The Wave and Swansea Sound and two floats by event sponsors Admiral all making special appearances.
The Christmas Parade and Light Switch On takes place on Sunday 16th November, starting at 5pm from the steps of the Guildhall and will wind its way through the streets of Swansea, lighting up the city as the procession passes through.
For more information visit the Swansea Christmas website www.swanseachristmas.com
This event is supported by Admiral, in association with The South Wales Evening Post and The Wave and Swansea Sound.
