The annual Guernsey Christmas parade and light switch will take place on Saturday 27th November, where children will have the chance to meet Father Christmas and his team of Elves and give him their Christmas letters.
Following the announcement of Storm Arwen and the red level weather warning for the Bailiwick of Guernsey this weekend, the Christmas parade organisers have decided to adjust the parade route for the safety of the public.
Father Christmas will arrive at the parade on The Petit Train Guernsey. The parade will now start at the Slaughterhouse, going through the filter and round the roundabout before heading along the bus terminus and continuing with the original route to the market. The timings of the parade will remain the same, beginning at 4pm at the Slaughterhouse and ending in Market Square at 4.45pm.
Entertainment in Market Square will start at 4pm and will be hosted by Island FM with music from the School of Popular Music Choir. Father Christmas will arrive at 4.45pm and turn the lights on at 5pm.
Children have a chance to enter a competition to meet Father Christmas and win one of five places to travel with him on the train and watch the light switch on. To enter, members of the public can comment on the ‘Shop Local Guernsey’ page on Facebook or Instagram and comment on why their child should be on the ‘nice list’ this Christmas.
To keep the Christmas Light Switch on as safe as possible for the community, please observe the following Covid-19 advice:
- Please utilise the whole parade route from the Model Yacht Pond to Market Square.
- Please undertake a lateral flow test before attending the event.
- Face masks are strongly recommended to be worn even though the event is re outdoors as the space can become crowded.
- Please do not attend the event if you are unwell with Covid symptoms or any other type of sickness which you have recovered from less than 48 hours before the event.
Rachel Raven, Corporate Responsibilities Manager at Healthspan said: “The Christmas Parade and light switch on is always a wonderful start to the festive season. The atmosphere in St Peter Port is very special and we are very excited to welcome Father Christmas and his Elves to Guernsey again this year.
“If you are unable to attend the Parade, children can still post their letters to Father Christmas in his post-box in the Guilles-Allès Library from 26 November to 10 December. Don’t forget to put your address on the letter so he can reply!”
For more information about the event, please contact Black Vanilla on 01481 729229.
