14/11/2024
Beginning at 6.30pm, the Parade will be led by the iconic Barrack Street Band.
Performers, musicians and dancers from arts organisations including Montfort College of Performing Arts, Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, and the Cork Butter Exchange Band will take part in the Christmas Parade. Students from Strawberry Hill National School will carry lanterns which they have made with Cork Community Artlink heralding the start of the Christmas season in Cork.
With their beautifully costumed characters and elegant processional sculptures, national arts organisation LUXe will create a Winter Fairy Tale procession that will travel through the streets of Cork on their magical Christmas Journey.
The procession will include a Giant Snowflake with Crystal Dancers, large golden baubles, a Snow Queen and her entourage of Snow Angels, a flying fairground horse and a troupe of dancing Christmas Stars, a Sugar Plum fairy and a Snowman surrounded by a snowstorm of light.
And although he is very busy getting all the toys ready, we are hoping for a special appearance from Santa who will be driven on a sleigh by the Cork Fire Brigade.
The procession will begin on North Main Street and will make its way onto Washington Street and the Grand Parade, before heading to St. Patrick’s Street where the main parade will finish. Santa and his friends will continue to MacCurtain Street where Santa will be whisked away with a Garda escort to assist his swift return to his worldwide preparations at the North Pole.
Wrap up warm and witness this enchanting Christmas spectacle where larger than life characters fill the streets of Cork. Best viewing points for the parade will be on North Main Street and St. Patrick’s Street.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle is inviting young and old alike to experience this new event, saying “The Corkmas Parade and the turning on of the Christmas Lights is such a magical time for children and families and a special time to catch up with old friends. I encourage you to come into Cork City and to experience all that Corkmas has on offer and be sure to shop local and support local businesses in Cork this Christmas.”
Cork City Council Chief Executive, Valerie O’Sullivan said: “We’re all looking forward to the first-ever Corkmas parade which will see some of the city’s best-loved performers join with one of the country’s top street theatre groups to celebrate the beginning of Christmas in Cork”.
“Also keep an eye out for this year’s Corkmas map which demonstrates the scores of festive events and performances taking place across the city. Corkmas is about supporting local and celebrating, discovering, and re-discovering the many experiences, and traditions, new and old, that make Christmas time in Cork so unique”.
Patrons are advised that temporary, rolling road closures and some bus diversions will be in place to minimise disruption from 6pm to 7.30pm. These will be detailed on the Corkmas website.
See www.corkmas.ie
