When Is The Colchester Santa Sleigh?

The festive season is about to get merrier in Colchester as Santa and his team of elves from the Colchester Round Table prepare for their annual sleigh tour around the town. Organised by the Colchester Round Table 367, the beloved event sees a brightly-lit sleigh make its way through neighbourhoods, collecting donations for local charities and bringing a bit of seasonal magic to residents of all ages.

This year’s schedule highlights the areas and dates when the sleigh will be visiting, with a prompt 6pm start each evening unless otherwise stated. The full list is as follows:

• Monday 1 December – Greenstead (starts 6pm)

• Tuesday 2 December – Shrub End (6pm)

• Wednesday 3 December – Myland & Braiswick (6pm)

• Thursday 4 December – Highwoods (6pm)

• Monday 8 December – Maldon Road (6pm)

• Tuesday 9 December – Newtown (6pm)

• Wednesday 10 December – Prettygate (6pm)

• Thursday 11 December – Wheatfield (6pm)

• Monday 15 December – Riverside (6pm)

• Tuesday 16 December – St Michael’s Estate (6pm)

• Wednesday 17 December – St John’s (6 pm-8 pm)

• Thursday 18 December – West Bergholt (6pm)

Residents are encouraged to come out, greet Santa, and support the good-causes benefitting from the collections. Beneficiaries this year include the Colchester Foodbank, the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, the Robin Cancer Trust, the Precious­Bundles and many more.

Our Tips:

• Be at your area’s route a little before 6pm if possible, to ensure you don’t miss the sleigh’s arrival.

• Have some small change ready for donations — every bit helps local good causes.

• Consider sharing your street scene or photos on social-media; the organisers welcome community spirit and updates.

• Dress warm and bring a torch or mobile light if you’ll be waiting in dimmer areas.

• Follow updates on the official Facebook/Instagram feeds to stay informed of any last-minute changes.

As the nights draw in and the holiday season gathers pace, this annual sleigh tour is a shining example of community, charity and festive cheer coming together in Colchester. So keep your eyes (and ears) alert for the jingling bells — Santa’s coming to town!

Make sure you tune into Actual Radio for the latest updates and visit https://colchestersantasleigh.co.uk/