Santa Cruise and Winter Parade

The date for 2013 is 30th November - watch this space for more information!!

Santa Cruise and

Evening 'Star' Parade was held on

Saturday 24th November 2012

Santa is a Sail Away Success!

The residents in Windermere and Bowness celebrated the start of the festive season on 24th November 2012.

After waking to dry weather conditions the day started with the sold out Seeking Santa Cruise, aboard a Windermere Lake Cruises Steamer, which saw children entertained by Peter Rabbit and ‘Beatrix Potter’ reading ‘A Winters Tale’ while sailing the lake seeking Santa! Once found he boarded the steamer to receive the children’s requests for gifts.

On their return to Bowness Santa and his elf rode off in style round Bowness courtesy of the stunning Booths horse and carriage.

At 3.30pm outside Lakeland Limited the recently formed Windermere and Bowness Community Choir performed a fabulous arrangement of tunes created especially for the evening before the Kookaburra All Stars drumming sounded the arrival of Santa on his Sleigh at 4.30pm.  Santa led the Windermere Sparkle Parade which was the biggest attraction of the day, drawing over 4,500 people to turn out on a perfect November evening; many of whom carried Sparkly Stars made at local schools and children’s groups, to see the town light up. The Kookaburras and Lakeland Radio kept the parade moving to a rhythmic beat while Santa, lead by his Reindeer, sprinkled his magic dust to turn on the lights along the way.

The crowds arrived at Windermere Recreation Ground where they enjoyed traditional mulled wine and mince pies, hot food and sweets which were just a little appetiser to the jaw dropping fireworks finale.

Sharon Wright, Chair of Windermere and Bowness Winter Lights committee, said: “The current economic climate brings home to us the importance of occasions like the Winter Lights Parade for the community to come together for one evening to celebrate the start of the festive season and to bring some much needed trade to the area.

We are extremely grateful to the residents and as always the same few businesses who along with Grant giving bodies continue to make our towns light up.

We require help with support and financial backing, so we urge businesses to help where they can so not to let us lose yet another great community event.

The organisation of the Santa Cruise, Sparkle Parade and lights themselves is hard work for the committee of 8 volunteer residents and traders involved, but it is worth it when you see the towns transformed as the lights are turned on.

My thanks go out to all the organisations and residents that help us.”

Please check this website and our Facebook page for updates regarding 2013