One of the highlights of Altrincham festive season, the Lantern Parade during which the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on, will take place this Saturday, November 20th.
The parade will start from Goose Green at 4.15pm and finish with a Christmas singalong in the Not So Secret Grotto – next door to WH Smith and Wilko in the Stamford Quarter – at 5pm.
Alongside the spectacular lantern puppets, local school children from Altrincham C of E Primary and Stamford Park School will join the parade with lanterns they have made in school workshops.
The town’s music and nursery schools will also be represented in the parade with Aura Music Academy and Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery taking part this year.
They will be joined by members of the cast from the Altrincham Garrick’s Christmas pantomime, Peter Pan.
The Lantern Parade Route
The parade will start to gather from 3.30pm in Goose Green where a brass ensemble from Aura Music Academy and the Altrincham Garrick Show Choir will get everyone in the festive mood with carols and show songs. Festive food and drink will be available from the Goose Green businesses.
The parade route will take in Moss Lane, Stamford New Road, Regent Road and George Street and finish in the Stamford Quarter.
It’s guaranteed to add a touch of Christmas magic to Altrincham with great vantage points all along the route for spectators.
Rolling road closures will be in place, and motorists are advised to avoid the route of the parade between 4-5pm if possible.
The afternoon build-up will see local school and community choirs take to the Not So Secret Grotto community stage from midday, kicking off with Little Belters.
The parade will finish at 5pm with a festive singalong finale led by The Music Place during which the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on by two of Altrincham’s Christmas Stars, members of the community who have gone above and beyond over the last 18 months.
Numbers will be limited in the Stamford Quarter’s Not So Secret Grotto but there will be a relay screen positioned beside Costa Coffee on George Street which will provide additional space to enjoy the arrival of the lantern parade and the festive singalong.
Mandy White, Altrincham’s BID Manager, said: “Altrincham’s Lantern Parade really is a magical Christmas event and will have a distinctly community feel this year.
“The event brings many families into the town, involves local primary schools, music and dance schools and community choirs.
“The parade makes its way through the town from Goose Green to Stamford Square and we would like to encourage visitors and locals to arrive early to enjoy the shops, restaurants and bars, plus of course the afternoon’s entertainment in both Goose Green and the Stamford Quarter.”
The event is funded by the businesses of Altrincham and produced by Altrincham BID.
