Santa train during the parade in North Main Street at the switching on of the Christmas tree lights in Wexford town. Pic: Jim Campbell

HUGE CROWDS lined the streets of Wexford on Saturday evening to watch the Christmas parade make its way through the town and down on to the quay where the lights were switched on and the Wexford Winterland festival was launched.

Despite weather fears and storm warnings, the rain stayed away but there were plenty of layers worn as the crisp cold further emphasised that we are entering the festive period. Indeed the cold was hardly noticeable as with a combination of colourful characters and the thumping beat of drums, the crowd was engrossed in the street spectacle.

Starting in Selskar Square, the parade, which featured Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, as well as a host of other characters, ambled through the Bullring and on up the main street before turning down Anne Street and arriving onto a packed quay shortly before 6 p.m.

Entertainment had been provided by the Wexford Male Voice Choir and a favourite figure from many a childhood – Bosco, prior to the parade’s arrival. This year, Santa’s Train is the newest attraction and it lead the parade.

This is the second year of the festival which saw huge success last year and many of the star attractions are back this year. The ice rink on the quay will give people the chance to perfect their skating techniques from now until January 10. A selection of Christmas movies will be screened at the Bullring Markets which will also host a number of music events during the festive period.

The festival was officially launched from the stage on the Quay on Saturday evening by Mayor of Wexford, Cllr. Ger Carthy and Santa Claus who expressed his hope that the boys and girls of Wexford had sent off their letters to him and had managed to stay off the naughty list for the year!

Cllr. Carthy said the event was a wonderful occasion for young and old alike and he commended those bodies involved in its organisation: Wexford Co. Council, Wexford Retail Group and Lantern Events. It was, he said, a wonderful time of year for all and he stressed the importance of shopping local during the Christmas period.

While the streets of Wexford were already lit up thanks to the generosity of local businesses, two Christmas trees in the Bullring and Redmond Square were yet to shine. The crowd gleefully got involved in chanting a countdown before Cllr. Carthy and Santa switched on the remaining lights on the quay, including the new ‘Tree of Lights’.

The Christmas experience will be rounded off by the echoing of Christmas music through the streets for the duration of the festival.

Wexford Co. Council has announced free parking in all public car parks from 11 a.m. every Tuesday until Christmas and every day from 10 a.m. from Saturday, December 19 until Christmas Eve.

Tickets for all events can be booked at the Box Office on 1 North Main Street, by phoning 053 91 99199 or logging on to www.wexfordwinterland.com.