The Corkmas Christmas parade will mark the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year - when the city fills with life, light and joy in anticipation of Christmas. Along with the Ferris Wheel, Christmas Lights, the markets and the festive events to be seen on these pages, for the first time Cork will host a parade - of light, music and fun - to herald the weeks in advance of the Big Day.
Taking place on Friday November 15, the inaugural parade will include music, dance, light and sparkle with a very special visit from Santa Claus, who will take a break from his very busy schedule to bring his sleigh for a drive through Cork city.
Featuring dancers, stiltwalkers, large-scale street spectacular pieces and bands, the parade will move through the city's spine in a 20-30 minute display, featuring the Barrack St band, hand-made lanterns produced with local schools in workshops with Cork Community Art Link, dancers from The Montford School of Dance and Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance and seasonal pieces from LUXe - makers of large-scale street theatre pieces who often also participate in Cork's St. Patrick's Day parade.
LUXe tell the story within this parade:
Winter Fairy Tale Procession
Once upon a time a Fairy Tale Winter Circus journeyed from the frozen east, spreading light among the streets and brightening the town’s many doorways. The people made lanterns, raised them high and sang songs - and the city became warm with laughter and shone with Christmas promise.
The beautifully costumed characters and elegant processional sculptures that form the Winter Fairy Tale procession will travel through the streets of Cork on their magical Christmas Journey.
Exotic seasonal travellers coming from the frozen forests bring their winter palaces and fairy tale smiles. The nutcracker prince spinning fire, a flying Fairground Horse ridden by a beautiful girl, the Sugar Plum Fairy dances up high, a Giant Snow Flake with Crystal Dancers, huge Golden Baubles light up the street, a big Rudolph Puppet prances and dances, a Snowman in a sparkling snowstorm and Santa high above the crowd on his magic bicycle.
The procession which heralds the advent of Christmas will include fairy tale images, a Giant Snowflake, the Snow Queen and her entourage of Snow Angels. A Sugar Plum fairy hanging from a bauble and a Snowman surrounded by a snow storm of light. The Nutcracker Prince, a flying Fairground Horse and a troupe of Dancing Christmas Stars.
The Corkmas Parade will begin on North Main St at 6.30pm, travelling via Washington St. and Grand Parade to Patrick's St., after which *some* elements will proceed to McCurtain St., finishing at The Everyman theatre.
A full road closure will be in place on North Main St., but all other streets on the parade route will see a 'rolling closure' - where traffic is held for the parade to pass. Therefore the best viewing spots for the public will be on North Main St. & Patrick's St. Full information on road closures and diversions will be posted here as they are confirmed.
Patrons with accessibility needs or their carers can email queries to corkchristmascelebration@corkcity.ie