Father Christmas and his real live reindeer in Rochdale

Date published: 04 December 2006

Father Christmas and his 'real reindeer' came to Rochdale Town Centre on Saturday 2 December with a parade down Yorkshire Street.  The parade included two real reindeer pulling Father and Mother Christmas, two Jack Frost stilt walkers, Colin Meredith’s panto dame, a life-size snowman, a reindeer, an elf, Miss Christmas, an angel, a Christmas bauble and Littleborough brass band (all wearing reindeer antlers!).

The people of Rochdale gathered in their hundreds to see this fantastic display, and followed them all the way down to the Butts to the sounds of "Jingle Bells’ and of course "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’.

After the parade children were invited to feed and pet the reindeer in their pen, whilst Christmas characters handed out sweets and reindeer masks to all the good boys and girls. 

The large crowd was also treated to a performance from Pandemonium, a percussion group, and there were plenty of fun rides for the children.

Suzy Woods, Marketing and Promotions officer for Rochdale Town Centre Management Company said: "The reindeer parade was a great success, and it was a lovely day out for the kids.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it, especially the reindeers themselves! It definitely proved that Christmas shopping is all about experiencing the atmosphere in Rochdale Town Centre."