Does city sleigh ride need revamp? You decide...
FATE OF CITY’S ICONIC FESTIVE ATTRACTION IS IN YOUR HANDS...
FOR thousands of Cov Kids, the iconic Santa Sleigh ride is the very definition of Christmas in the city.
But after 60 years, it’s looking a little worn out.
Organisers of the ride – which is now hosted at Coventry Transport Museum - have discovered that its landscape, which features a snow-laden village scene, is in need of repairs.
Staff can’t decide whether to fix the current scenery or create a new one altogether.
“It’s 50/50 on whether to keep the existing landscape or commission a new one, but we’ve got to make the decision quickly as the festive season is fast approaching,” said Ruark Jon-Stevens, marketing manager at Culture Coventry.
Coventry Transport Museum has been home to the famous ride since 2016. Prior to that it had been a staple of the festive celebrations at The Co-op in Corporation Street.
Ali Kurji, chief executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: “The sleigh ride remains a much-loved institution in the city of Coventry, having entertained generations of families from all over the world for more than six decades.
“It is excellent that, in partnership with Culture Coventry, we were able to keep the magic alive.
“Even now, mums, dads and grandparents as well as our children of today continue to enjoy the ride which remains synonymous with Coventry’s Christmas spirit.”
To help decide which course of action to take, members of the public can cast a vote in a Facebook poll.
Ruark said: “The case for a new landscape would be that we could give it a fresh feel and it would be a new attraction for the people who have ridden the sleigh previously. We could even include more Coventry landmarks – particularly as we move towards UK City of Culture 2021 – but then, also, make a display of the current scenery.
“The case for repairing the current landscape is that it is, basically, the essence of the journey and should not be altered.
“We know that the sleigh ride means so much to the people of Coventry and in many households.
“Visiting the sleigh is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, so we want to ensure that we are doing the right thing.”
Cast your vote via the poll on the Coventry Transport Museum Facebook page (@CovTM) before Wednesday, September 26 at 5pm. Or you can email the team at marketing@culturecoventry.com