News

Santa and Mayor to light up Strabane in Magical Christmas Procession this Saturday

21 November 2023

Santa Claus is back on the streets of Strabane this Saturday November 25th when he will turn on the town’s Christmas lights as part of a Magical Winter Wonderland Procession.

The parade will be led from Dock Street by Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue.

The procession will feature Santa with a colourful array of festive characters and beautiful bespoke Christmas themed mobile installations and will move through Dock Street, Railway Road, John Wesley Street, Main Street, Market Street and Castle Place, Castle Street, before coming out on to Abercorn Square and finishing on Railway Street for the Christmas Light Switch On.

The event will take place from 5pm to 6pm and will be one of the highlights of Council’s 2023 Christmas programming which includes Mayor Patricia Logue’s Christmas Tea Dance in St Patrick’s Hall and a number of new initiatives such as the Newtownstewart Winter Wonderland and the Sion Mills Christmas Fun Day.

“I’m really looking forward to attending the parade and seeing Strabane town centre lit up in all its glory for the first time,” said Mayor Logue.

“The excitement has been building around the town since Halloween with the erection of the lights and decorations and Council’s maintenance and electrical teams have been working hard to ensure Strabane is sparkling on Saturday evening for what will be the official start of our Christmas programming in the District.

“I’m particularly looking forward to hosting my Christmas Tea Dance in the town and my Christmas Movie afternoons in the Alley Theatre which starts with Miracle on 31st Street next week.”

To help generate festive cheer, from 2pm - 4.30pm there will be walk-about festive characters in the town ventre and activities in the Alley Theatre in the afternoon before the Christmas Procession.

There will also be musical performances before and after the switch on by the Strabane Brass Band, Class Act and Encore at Abercorn Square and Railway Street. 

The Mayor’s Christmas Tea Dances are scheduled for December 6th in the Guildhall and 12th December in St Patrick’s Hall in Strabane.

You can plan your Derry Strabane Christmas experience by accessing the full programme at derrystrabane.com/Christmas and support and follow Council's support local campaign using the hashtags #DerryStrabaneChristmas and #GiftLocal on social media.