Santa Claus is coming to town with a very special set of helpers to launch the start of the Christmas season in Swansea.
The free city centre procession, organised by Swansea Council, will take place with just over four weeks to go before the big day itself.
The parade will set off from Victoria Road at 5pm before making its way through the city centre to The Kingsway with an anticipated finish time of approximately 6.30pm.
As the parade makes its way through the city centre, crowds will be treated to an extravaganza of dazzling sights and sounds. Giant illuminated floats will light up the streets, creating a kaleidoscope of colour as they glide by. Energetic performers will fill the route with excitement, while marching bands bring the sound of Christmas to life with lively festive tunes.
Children and families will be delighted to spot their favourite fairy tale and movie characters along the way, ready to greet them with waves and smiles. Local community groups will showcase their creativity and talent through vibrant costumes, festive routines, and performances that bring a true sense of Swansea’s festive spirit to the event.
New for this year, a breath taking sleigh carved entirely from ice will be unveiled on the day of the parade. This spectacular centrepiece will offer visitors the chance to step inside for a photo, turning the moment into a truly unforgettable experience for families – a perfect snapshot to treasure the festive spirit.
The highlight of the evening will be Santa himself, arriving to switch on the city’s Christmas lights, marking the official start of the season.
Council Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, Councillor Robert Francis-Davies said:
“Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for the city centre, and the Christmas parade is the perfect way for families to kick off the festive countdown.
“The parade is unmissable and this year we’re expecting it to be as big and bold as ever with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.
“We are proud to host this incredible free event for the people of Swansea at such an important time for our retailers and hospitality businesses. It’s no exaggeration to say the city centre will be buzzing with tens of thousands of visitors, so be sure to get there early and enjoy the full experience.”
“The Christmas Parade is always a highlight of our festive calendar. This year, we’re aiming to create a true Christmas carnival atmosphere, full of light, music, and dancing. It’s been a challenging year for many, so we’re thrilled to be able to bring this amazing celebration back to life.”
Cllr Francis-Davies said that the community groups and organisations are always an important and key part of the parade and the council’s Events team is already in touch with many of them to discuss their participation at this year.
Parking
You can find a full list of all city centre car parks including locations and postcodes at swansea.gov.uk/carparks.
Note: East Burrows car park will be closed on the day. In addition, the following car parks are available for parking but will be affected by the road closures for the event between 4pm and approximately 6.30pm;
- Park Street East car park (SA1 3DJ)
- Park Street West car park (SA1 3DF)
- Pell Street car park (SA1 3ES)
- Oxford Street car park (SA1 3AZ)
- Worcester Place car park (SA1 1HY)
- Quadrant (SA1 3QR)
- Bae Copr Bay South (Arena) (SA1 3BX)
- Northampton Lane (SA1 4EW)
Park and Ride
There will be a Park and Ride operating between Fabian Way Park and Ride and the Bus Station.
Buses will leave every 15 minutes from 2pm until 5.15pm. After the parade, buses will run continuously until 8pm.
Please be aware that traffic will be busy in the City Centre in the build up to the event – if you are planning to use the Park and Ride, please allow plenty of time for travel from the Park and Ride site to the City Centre itself. Please note: both Park and Ride sites will be locked overnight.
Fabian Way Park and Ride
- Cost per vehicle – £1
- Postcode – SA1 8LD
- Open between 2pm and 8pm
- Tickets available from Fabian Way Park and Ride ticket machine
- Drop off and collection point – Quadrant Bus Station
Road Closures
In order to stage the parade safely, a number of road closures will be in place on the evening of the event. Where possible, closures will be implemented on a rolling basis. Access for emergency will be maintained at all times.
The designated route of the Christmas Parade will be as follows; Victoria Road, Princess Way, Caer Street, Castle Bailey Street, Castle Street, High Street, Orchard Street, The Kingsway. You can find out more details on this year’s parade route here. Therefore, the following rolling road closures, diversions and parking restrictions will be in place;
- East Burrows Road and Somerset Place – 2.00pm to 8.00pm*
- Bellevue Way – 12noon to 9.00.pm*
Rolling Road Closures
- Adelaide Street, Victoria Road, Princess Way, Oystermouth Road, Caer Street, Castle Bailey Street, Castle Street, High Street, Alexandra Road, College Street, Orchard Street, The Kingsway, Dillwyn Street, Ivy Place, Christina Street and Wellington Street – 4.00pm to 8.00pm*
*Note: These are approximate timings.
Parking Restrictions
For safety, security and to aid traffic movement in the area, we are required to keep some roads free of parked vehicles and therefore there will be parking restrictions and a vehicle tow-away operation taking place on these roads;
- East Burrows Road, Somerset Place, Princess Way, Caer Street, Castle Bailey Street, Castle Street, High Street, Alexandra Road, College Street, Orchard Street, The Kingsway, Dillwyn Street, Wellington Street, Adelaide Street – 2.00pm to 8.00pm
Getting to Swansea by bus
You can travel on the bus for free with the Free Ride Swansea free bus offer – extended until 9pm for the parade only! Find out more here.
For full bus timetables please visit www.firstgroup.com/south-west-wales
www.adventuretravel.cymru/bus-services
www.southwalestransport.com/bus-routes-and-timetables
www.dansa.org.uk/route-timetables/ to help plan your trip.
Please note: Bus stops along the parade route between 4.00pm and 6.30pm will not be operational, please use the Quadrant Bus Station.
Car Sharing
If you are travelling by car please car share if possible. Car sharing will help you save money by sharing the costs and reduce the amount of traffic on the roads, helping the environment.
For further details, visit www.visitswanseabay.com
[Lead image: Swansea Council]
