This Saturday 19 December the annual Santa Skate takes off from the Wellington Arch in Hyde Park Corner at 5pm. Proclaimed to be the year's 'biggest costumed street skate' by organisers LondonSkate and London Friday Night Skate, the event invites skaters of an intermediate level or above to don Santa suits and blaze across central London spreading festive cheer.
Last year's event saw more than 400 roller skaters and rollerbladers glide across the city, and up to 500 are expected this year, which marks the 5th anniversary. Participants are requested to make a £10 donation towards future events and the general promotion of street skating in the capital. A Santa suit is provided and can be picked up from the Victoria Public House in Strathearn Place W2 2NH between 2 and 4pm on the day of the event.
The nine-mile route takes in some notable central London landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, where a halfway rest stop at 6pm will offer free mince pies to skaters. Sound systems strapped to bicycles are to provide musical entertainment throughout, while an official after-party kicks off from 8pm onwards at the Smithfield Tavern in Charterhouse Street EC1.
For more details, see the Santa Skate homepage or if you wish to secure a place, email londonstreetskate@hotmail.com. In the case of poor weather, the event will be rescheduled for 2pm on Sunday 20 December.
Image copyright: London Skate
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