Illuminated Art Car Parade

Who says processions should be limited to the summer months? This Thursday, one of the most imaginative and funniest parades of them all will be amusing the crowds in the city centre with the return of the Art Cars.

Like a real-life version of Wacky Races, these spectacular, surprising mobile machines make cars into works of art. Big in America, the idea was first tried out in the UK in Manchester in 2007. It went down a treat with 30,000 spectators gathering to watch the procession. Now the Art Cars return as part of the city centre's Christmas celebrations, with an illuminated version of the parade which will include three specially commissioned cars.

Look out for ARTIKCAR by Ben Wilson – a life sized version of a child's wooden toy car, and Go Go Mobility Disco by Ed Samkin – a diehard disco fan's way of staying mobile in his later years. THE FLY by Andy Hazell looks set to turn heads. It's made up of a helicopter, with wings instead of rotor blades, mounted on a jeep.

It's not just cars that will be transformed, reinvented, and restyled. Art Car parades have featured everything from prams to rickshaws to wheelchairs in the past.

Head to Cathedral Gardens from 3pm this Thursday 26 November to see what delights the Art Car team have lined up for us this year. The parade will run from 6.30pm to 8pm, starting at Cathedral Gardens.