THE Father Christmas Parade will return to Truro city centre to celebrate the first late-night Shopping evening on Wednesday, November 26.

Inspired by the Hall For Cornwall’s Christmas show, Aladdin, the parade will feature Father Christmas in his locally-made sleigh, elves, local dance groups, musicians and circus performers (no reindeer).

It will leave Boscawen Street at 6.30pm, with a selection of small City of Lights lanterns carried by families who made them at workshops hosted by Hall for Cornwall.

They will make their way along St Nicholas Street, Kenwyn Street, right at Little Castle Street and into 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 parade marks the start of the first of four Wednesday late-night Shopping evenings, with a final late-night spree scheduled for Monday, December 22. Many shops will be open until 9pm - including Truro Christmas Market on Lemon Quay and the Boscawen Street Christmas Market. The main shopping streets will be traffic-free, and Christmas lights will illuminate the city centre.

Coodes Solicitors Chair, Elise Alma, said: “The Father Christmas Parade 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."

The Truro Park and 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.