Staffordians turn-out for Santa Parade!
The Guildhall Shopping Centre's Christmas Santa Parade took place on Saturday 19th November and it was the biggest parade ever seen in Stafford. The parade was over 1/2 mile in length and included 10 carnival floats, the cast of the Gatehouse Theatre's Christmas Pantomime on an open-top double decker bus, costume characters including some giant albino peacocks and some 'Joy Riding Reindeer'. There were hundreds of walkers all in fancy dress costume, marching bands and of course, the star of the show was Santa with his real reindeer.
Following the parade, the entertainment continued with a full programme of carol singers, dancers, bands and musicians all taking to the 40ft stage in Market Square. The Market Square and the stage then became the focus of attention at 5.00pm when over 15,000 people squeezed into Market Square to watch the town's Christmas lights turned on and a spectacular fireworks display launched from the roof of the Guildhall Shopping Centre.
Anne Graham, Marketing Manager for the Guildhall said "It has been an exciting and extraordinary day. The atmosphere in the town has been bubbling with Christmas festive spirit and everyone seems to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Guildhall are proud to be the main sponsor of the Christmas in Stafford event and we think both the Guildhall parade and the fireworks have been better than ever this year".
