Plenty on at Plymouth's Waterfront this Christmas

Christmas shoppers are urged not to forget about the Waterfront this Christmas, where the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Royal William Yard will also be joining in on the festivities with an abundance to see and do.

Waterfront Manager, Sarah Gibson, said: “Christmas in the Waterfront this year will be a Christmas extravaganza that people will not want to miss. Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Royal William Yard businesses have been working extremely hard to offer visitors a wide range of choice when it comes to a great festive day out.

“Not only will there be Christmas lights, Santa visits, performances from the Military Wives Choir, family entertainment and festive stalls the events also provide a fantastic opportunity for people to see what unique items and locally crafted gifts our independent traders and artists are offering this year for that extra special Christmas present. With an unrivalled waterside setting with ease of parking, the whole, relaxed experience of browsing the shops, stopping for a bite to eat or treating yourself to a cocktail provides an extra special bit of Christmas sparkle this year .”

This Sunday 6 December, The Barbican and Sutton Harbour will be providing an afternoon of Christmas themed family fun as part of their Christmas Lights switch-on event. From 2pm to 5pm there will be a range of entertainment on The Parade including carol singers and a performance from the Far Flung Dance Theatre Company.

Christmas lights will line Southside Street and the tree on The Parade will be lit when the lights go on at 4pm. Santa will be dropped off at Commercial Wharf by the RNLI Rib at 3.45pm before walking to Southside Street, where it joins Basket Ope, to do the official switch-on.

From 10am that same day, the Royal William Yard will be hosting a Christmas Good Food Market where visitors to the Yard will be able to stock up on the best festive local food and drink from across the South West.  Children will be able to visit Santa in his special ‘cruise’ Grotto.

A Waterfront business funded extension to the 25A CityBus service will be running on a special route to link the Barbican with the Royal William Yard all day on Sunday 6 December. Running every 20minutes between 9am and 5pm, stops include Royal Parade, Barbican Mayflower Steps, Tinside Lido, West Hoe’s Grand Parade, Millbay Road’s Caroline Place, Royal William Yard, Union Street’s Post Office and back to Royal Parade.

Open now until Wednesday 23 December, the Royal William Yard is showcasing a Christmas exhibition, hosted by Ocean Studios, featuring work from the artists based within the Studios, as well as a wide selection of original and unique gifts.

This exhibition will be hosting a range of materials including; glass work, textiles, print, photography and feature painting.

Tthe Royal William Yard will be hosting an additional festive gift market on Sunday 13 December from 12pm to 8pm.

The smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine will fill the air as people wander the array of Christmas stalls. Santa will be making an appearance arriving into the Yard’s harbour by RNLI Life Boat from 4.45pm where he will be welcomed by the Military Wives singing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’. Santa will then give gifts to children from the Pontoon before the Lantern Parade.

Visitors are encouraged to join in the parade and to bring their own lanterns for entry into the Yard’s ‘Best Lantern Competition’ for a chance at winning a range of fantastic prizes from the Yard.

For more information about all that Plymouth’s Waterfront has to offer this Christmas, go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk/christmas