Following a short delay to allow the city’s favourite festive attraction to follow lockdown rules, Manchester’s Giant Santa will arrive in St Peter’s Square this weekend.
Clocking in at 12 meters high, the selfie-loving Santa is making his second annual appearance in Manchester has the city’s festive mascot – and weighing in at 2.3tonnes, he’s difficult to miss.
The three-day effort to build the giant St Nick begins today (Friday 27 November) and completed by early next week. The thousands of low-energy LED lights that make him sparkle will be switched-on with the rest of the city’s festive lights next week. Detail to be confirmed.
Santa will be joined once again by a trail of large-scale light sculptures across the city in Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter’s Square, New Cathedral Street, along with the traditional crib in St Ann’s Square and a Christmas tree by the Cathedral. They will be installed early next week (w/c 30 November)
The lights will be turned on by three NHS heroes working on the front line to keep us safe throughout the pandemic.
As ever, the thoroughly modern Santa will take up with reins of his own twitter feed, providing his sometimes peculiar take on the city’s festive news.
Follow him @MCRSanta
Follow the conversation using #McrChristmas
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “We’ve kept in contact with Santa throughout the year and he was confident that he would be back this year. Afterall, Manchester is his favourite city.
“Of course, Christmas will be a bit different this year and the safety of people visiting the city must be at the front of our minds.
“But make sure to pay him a visit when you’re in Piccadilly Gardens this festive season – and remember, he’s a fan of selfies. Important information if you want to stay on the good list.”
