SWANSEA’S Christmas Parade proved a big hit with its return this year.
More than 30,000 people enjoyed the lights switch-on last Sunday evening, handing organisers huge acclaim for the show.
It came on the back of a staged event in 2016 which didn’t go down so well, with critics loudly rounding on it for a lack of any real Christmas theme.
Now it’s emerged the green light has already been given to another traditional parade in 2018.
Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and major projects, said: “We tried something different last year with a staged event on The Kingsway but, following feedback, we decided to re-introduce the Christmas Parade this year.
“That definitely proved to be the right decision because not only was this year’s parade among the best-ever attended, but its quality has won considerable praise from residents, visitors and city businesses.
“In addition to the opening of Waterfront Winterland at Museum Park and the arrival of the Christmas Market on Oxford Street, the parade was a fantastic way to kick-off Swansea’s 2017 Christmas celebrations.”
Starting at 5pm and working its way along Wind Street, High Street, Orchard Street and The Kingsway, this year’s Christmas Parade featured a range of floats taking inspiration from movies including Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, the Polar Express and Cinderella. Other features included futuristic, Christmas-themed hoverboarders, a Mother Christmas dance group and Santa aboard a vintage fire engine.
The event has also been seen as being positive for city centre businesses. The Quadrant Shopping Centre reported a 16% increase in footfall compared with the day of the city centre’s Christmas launch event last year.
Russell Greenslade, chief executive of Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), said: “With many thousands of people heading into the city centre for the Christmas Parade, it was great news for trade and our fantastic selection of hospitality businesses – many of whom say they were very busy before and after the parade.
“Shops open on Sunday afternoon were also able to benefit because of the thousands of people who headed for the parade in advance.
“The weeks that build up to Christmas are vitally important for our city centre traders, with the Christmas Parade and lights switch-on among a variety of events aimed at generating a terrific festive atmosphere that will encourage people to shop, visit and stay to do their Christmas shopping in Swansea city centre. This helps further improve the economy and vibrancy of the Business Improvement District area.”
Maria Nash, from Swansea, who attended Sunday’s event, said it had been “wonderful to see so many amazing floats”.
“The streets were buzzing with excited children. Let’s hope we can build on this for next year.”
Hayley Samuel, also from Swansea, said: “It was a great parade, feeling like the parades of old but a bit more high-tech.”
