GIANT SANTA’S HO, HO, HOME!
12 METRE, 2.3 TONNE FATHER CHRISTMAS BACK IN CITY CENTRE
MANCHESTER’S festive mascot Santa is back in the city centre and is in sparking good form.
Clocking in at an impressive 12 meters high and weighing a hefty 2.3 tonnes, the huge Father Christmas has been carefully constructed in St Peter’s Square.
He is powered by thousands of lowenergy LED light bulbs – giving him a twinkly festive glow and has been switched on ready for the festive season.
The city’s favourite red resident will be the final addition to the trail of light sculptures created for the city centre by local Blackburn-based MK Illumination, which have been bringing festive joy from November 12.
There is a nativity scene in St Ann’s Square, light sculptures in Piccadilly Gardens (Winter Gardens) including the popular sparkling Manchester Bee and a large Christmas tree that will accompany St Nick in St Peter’s Square – perfect for seasonal selfies. The Christmas Tree is made from recycled materials and is reused each year as a commitment to the sustainability of the city’s festive events. Santa will be joining the festive cheers – using his Twitter account @MCRSanta, and Manchester council are urging residents to make sure they tag him in Christmas snaps and use the hashtag #McrChristmas to keep him in the loop.
Coun Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “Santa is eager to return to his favourite city and to ensure that Christmas is safe and fun for everyone.
“He wants to make sure that everyone in Manchester has a wonderful Christmas. We tree-mendously hope you go down to see him, if you miss him yule be sorry.”