CHILDREN are being encouraged to get creative for the chance to win a starring role in an annual reindeer parade that hits Bradford next month.

Kirkgate Shopping Centre is hosting its popular magical parade on Sunday, November 6, which will see Santa on his sleigh being pulled through the city centre by his favourite animals.

Ahead of the special event, which marks Santa’s arrival in the Kirkgate’s free grotto, the centre is asking children aged nine or under to put their crayons, paints and pencils to paper and colour in the provided festive drawing sheets.

Two winners and their families will join Santa during the parade followed by tea at City Hall with the Lord Mayor, Geoff Reid, the following day,

Catherine Riley, centre manager, said: “Kirkgate Shopping’s Christmas celebrations are legendary and we’re incredibly lucky that Santa is joining us once again during his busiest period.

“Every year we receive hundreds of entries as children are desperate for the chance to ride with Santa through the city centre. We really can’t wait to see the results and announce our winners.”

Luana Lancaster, mum of six-year-old Sienna, who was one of the 2015 winners, said: “Sienna couldn’t stop talking about meeting and sitting alongside Santa Claus in last year’s reindeer parade, it absolutely made her Christmas and is a memory we’ll all cherish.”

Entry packs for the competition can be collected and handed in at the Kirkgate Shopping Centre’s information bureau.

The closing date for entries is Friday, October 28, and the winners must be available to ride in the parade on Sunday, November 6, and have tea with the Lord Mayor at City Hall, at 5pm on November 7.

While the reindeer parade heads to City Park on the first weekend in November, the city’s festive lights will be switched on during a special event on Saturday, November 19, from 5pm to 6pm.

There will be high energy street theatre and dance, as well as pyrotechnics and fire works, as visitors count down to the Christmas lights turning on.

The free event will feature world-renowned British circus production company, Cirque Bijou, which will bring its fire and light energy dance show to City Park.

There will also be drummers from Spark! as well as External Combustion, bringing their fireworks expertise.