Birmingham’s wackiest Christmas event, the annual Thomas Vale Pantomime Horse Grand National, will be taking place on Sunday in Centenary Square between 1pm-3pm.
The free event, which is sponsored by local construction company Thomas Vale, will be full of festive silliness as competitors take part in a pre-race parade to show off their steeds, as well as separate races for colts (boys) and fillies (girls).
The competitors are raising money for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which this year include St Basil’s and Pancreatic Cancer Research.
The winner of each race will receive a bottle of champagne and a trophy, awarded by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Cllr Michael Wilkes, and Tony Hyde, Managing Director of Thomas Vale Construction.
Spectators can even have a “flutter” if they wish to with a local betting shop offering odds on each entrant.
Broad Street will be closed to traffic from Sheepcote Street to Paradise Circus between 9:30am – 4pm, with access to frontages only.
Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture said: “This fantastic event will be a fun, free day out for all the family and we are delighted to be working with Thomas Vale to bring this event to the city centre again. Together with the Frankfurt Christmas Market, the Birmingham Mail Wheel and other events the city centre is a vibrant and exciting place to visit over the festive season.”
Tony Hyde, Thomas Vale’s managing director commented: "Thomas Vale are as proud this year as the first to support this event on behalf of the city and the Lord Mayor’s charities. The event brings together local businesses and people from across Birmingham and the Midlands to work as one team for the benefit of those less fortunate than ourselves."
This event is just one of many organised by Birmingham City Council over the Christmas season, including the Frankfurt Christmas Market and Aston Hall by Candlelight. For more information on Christmas events, go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/christmas.
Schedule
1pm Warm up and Parade
1:30pm Fillies Race
2pm Colts Grand National
2:30pm Prize-winning presentations
