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Father Christmas Parade to take place on Truro’s first Wednesday Late Night Shopping evening

12 November 2025

The Father Christmas Parade will be returning to Truro City Centre to celebrate the first Late Night Shopping evening on Wednesday 26th November.

Organised by Truro BID, the Father Christmas Parade takes place at 6.30pm, leaving from Boscawen St. Rock Choir Cornwall will be providing entertainment before the parade at 6pm in Boscawen Street.

The Parade inspired by Aladdin (Hall for Cornwall’s Christmas Show this year), will feature Father Christmas in his sleigh, elves, local dance groups, musicians, and circus performers. 

A selection of small City of Lights Lanterns will be included in the parade again this year. The lanterns will be carried by the families that have made them at the upcoming Lantern Making Workshops at the Hall for Cornwall for families on Sunday 16th November. 

The parade marks the start of the first of four Wednesday Late Night Shopping evenings, and a final, extra Late Night Shopping on Monday 22nd December. Many shops will be open until 9pm, the main shopping streets will be traffic-free, and the City Centre Christmas Lights will be illuminating the city. Both the Truro Christmas Market on Lemon Quay and the Boscawen Street Christmas Markets will be open until 9pm. 

Once the Parade leaves Boscawen Street, it will make its way along St Nicholas Street, Kenwyn Street, right at Little Castle Street and on to River Street. Then back along St Nicholas Street, onto Boscawen Street, Princes Street, Green Street, Lemon Quay and finishing at Back Quay/Lower Lemon Street.

The Father Christmas Parade is being brought to the city by Truro BID and sponsored by Coodes Solicitors.

Alun Jones, Truro BID Manager said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the start of Truro’s Late Night shopping evenings with Father Christmas, local dancers, musicians, and circus performers parading around the city. The Christmas Lights will be illuminating Truro, many shops and eateries will be open later and the festive markets will be in full swing. Following the parade, residents and visitors can enjoy a further three Wednesday Late Night Shopping evenings, plus a final, extra late-night on Monday 22nd December for those last-minute gifts.”

Coodes Solicitors Chair, Elise Alma, said: “We are delighted to, once again, be sponsoring The Father Christmas Parade. It is a wonderful, fun-filled celebration that showcases everything Truro has to offer during the festive season, giving everyone an extra reason to soak up the festive spirit. Truro truly knows how to embrace the season, and at Coodes, we're eagerly looking forward to enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and festive energy that fills the city."

Charlotte Williams from Truro City of Lights added: "We are looking forward to parading Aladdin inspired lanterns through the streets of Truro with the local community for the Father Christmas Parade. Thank you to Truro BID and Hall for Cornwall, for supporting us to make this happen.”

The Truro Park & Ride will be operating a later service on all Late Night Shopping evenings, with the last service leaving the city at 9.30pm. Due to the city centre road closures, the Park and Ride services towards Tregurra Park will use River Street and services towards Langarth Park, will use Victoria Square.

For more details of all Truro’s Festive Events go to www.visittruro.org.uk and follow @visittruro on Facebook and Instagram. 

As with the parades featuring Father Christmas that have taken place in the last four years in Truro, there will be no live reindeer at the event. Father Christmas and his elf will be in his locally built wooden sleigh.

Notes to editors:

  • The four Wednesday Late Night Shopping dates are 26th November, 3rd December, 10th December and 17th December. There is an extra, final Late Night Shopping on Monday 22nd December.
  • Truro BID (Business Improvement District) is a not-for-profit organisation delivering projects events and services for the benefit of Truro and Truro’s businesses. Truro’s Christmas Lights are maintained, funded, and installed by Truro BID each year via the BID levy contributions from around 362 Truro Businesses.
  • The City of Lights Lantern Making Workshops on Sunday 16th November can be booked via www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/whats-on/city-of-lights-lantern-making-workshop and are supported by Truro BID and Hall For Cornwall. 
  • The Boscawen Street Christmas Markets are hosted by Truro Farmers Market, Cornwall Shop Small and Truro BID. 
  • The Truro Christmas Market, hosted by Truro Farmers Market and Cornwall Event Cabins, is taking place daily from Friday 21st November until Wednesday 24th December. 
  • Visit Truro is a service provided by Truro City Council, its key roles are to undertake the destination marketing of the city and drive the growth of the visitor economy.