TRURO's Father Christmas Parade is to take place on the city’s first Wednesday Late Night Shopping evening. 

Following Truro’s Christmas Lights Switch-on, which takes place on November 24, celebrations continue in the city with The Father Christmas Parade on Wednesday, November 29. The parade coincides with the first of Truro’s four late-night shopping evenings this year, and the launch of the BIG Christmas Market on Lemon Quay.

Organised by Truro BID, the Father Christmas Parade will start at 6.30pm from Boscawen Street, and will feature Father Christmas in his sleigh, elves, local community dance groups, musicians, and circus performers. Inspired by Hall for Cornwall’s Christmas Show Peter Pan, as well as Father Christmas, expect Peter Pans, pirate clans, Tinker Bells and more!

Rock Choir Cornwall will provide entertainment at 6pm on Boscawen Street, followed by the parade which will leave at 6.30pm. The parade will make its way along St Nicholas Street, Kenywn Street, right at Little Castle Street and on to River Street. Then back along St Nicholas Street, onto Boscawen Street, Princes Street, Green Street and finishes at Back Quay.

From November 29, four late-night shopping Wednesdays will be taking place in Truro until Christmas giving ample chances to explore the city’s wide range of independent shop, high street shops, and eateries whilst enjoying the City Centre Christmas Lights. Many shops will be open until 9pm and both indoors markets will stay open later.

On the same day The BIG Christmas Market hosted by Truro Farmers Market will start at 9am on Lemon Quay, and new for this year, will feature traditional festive wooden cabins. From Wednesday, November 29, up until Christmas Eve, Lemon Quay will be alive with traders from across Cornwall each day, all showcasing local food, drink, art, and crafts, while street food, music, and family entertainment will add an immersive feel to the month-long market. The BIG Christmas market, which is sponsored by Sekoya HR, will be open until 9pm on Wednesdays to coincide with late night shopping.

Boscawen St will also host a selection of Truro Farmers Market produce stalls during the day for the four late night shopping Wednesdays, as well as the four Saturdays in December. On Wednesdays some of these stalls will change from produce to seasonal goods and gifts from 4pm, when there will also be street food and entertainment to enjoy. As well as browsing stalls, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy traffic-free shopping streets on Saturdays all day, and until 9pm on Wednesdays for late night shopping.

Alun Jones, Truro BID Manager said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the start of Truro’s Wednesday Late Night shopping evenings with Father Christmas, local dancers, musicians, and circus performers parading around town! Residents and visitors can enjoy four Wednesday late-night shopping evenings with the Christmas Lights illuminating Truro whilst they shop, eat and drink. This year, we’ve been working with Truro Farmers Market to help bring a festive buzz to Boscawen St with traffic-free streets, stalls, street food and entertainment.”

Truro Farmers Market Coordinator, Stewart Girvan, said: “Along with our wonderful traders we’re getting ready to bring The BIG Christmas Market to Lemon Quay. We can’t wait to showcase the new look market experience, with festive wooden cabins. It’s also really exciting that from working together with Truro BID, we’ll be launching The BIG Christmas Market to coincide with both the Father Christmas Parade and the city’s first Wednesday Late Night Shopping.”

On all Wednesday Late Night Shopping evenings security staff and our local police will be present and Truro’s Park & Ride will be operating a later service, with the last service leaving the city at 9.30pm.

The Father Christmas Parade is being brought to the city by Truro BID and sponsored by Coodes Solicitors. FEAST and Truro City Council are also supporting this event.

Peter Lamble, Chairman from Coodes Solicitors said: “The Father Christmas Parade is a fantastic, fun and festive opportunity to enjoy all that Truro has to offer. This extra event this year is a welcome instalment in the festive calendar and coincides with the opportunity for those who live, work and visit the city to indulge in some late night shopping. Truro really does know how to celebrate the festive season, and at Coodes we are all looking forward to enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and festive buzz.”

Along with traffic-free streets on Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 25, there will also be a free parking day in Cornwall Council carparks on Saturday 2nd December and Truro’s Park and Ride will be free to use. In Truro the following car parks will be free on 2nd December: Edward Street, Garras Wharf, Moorfield, Moresk and Old Bridge Street.

For more details of all festive events in Truro go to www.visittruro.org.uk and follow @visittruro on Facebook and Instagram.