Get into the Christmas spirit with the 2019 Santa Bus Tour!
The open-top bus, decked out with 9,600 fairy lights, will visit more than 200 streets in Brighton and Hove over 20 nights, raising funds for 11 charities along the way!
Children (and adults) will get to see Santa and his elves drive down their road in the lit-up bus with the fun of festive lights and music.
Launch
The Santa Bus Tour starts on Monday 25 November. Hove’s Goldstone and Downs Park area will be the first stop on the Santa Bus Tour on Monday.
The bus will start its route at 5:30 pm and finish at 8:30 pm. Brighton and Hove Buses’ have changed some of the routes and nights from previous years.
The dates and areas the Santa Bus will visit are:
Monday, November 25: Goldstone and Downs Park area.
Tuesday, November 26: Southwick.
Wednesday, November 27: Wish area.
Thursday, November 28: Bevendean.
Friday, November 29: Peacehaven
Monday, December 2: Hangleton.
Tuesday, December 3: West Blatchington and Knoll Estate area.
Wednesday, December 4: Coldean and Meadowview.
Friday, December 6: Portland and Boundary Road area.
Monday, December 9: Hollingbury.
Tuesday, December 10: Stanford.
Wednesday, December 11: Hollingdean.
Thursday, December 12: Moulsecoomb.
Friday, December 13: Mile Oak area.
Monday, December 16: Woodingdean.
Tuesday, December 17: Saltdean.
Wednesday, December 18: East Saltdean.
Thursday, December 19: Freshfield and Whitehawk.
Friday, December 20: Woodingdean.
To find a full list of the routes and map, including a Santa Bus Tracker! Click here.
Accessibility and Communities Manager, Victoria Garcia, said,
“The best thing is seeing people’s faces light up as the Santa Bus goes down their street and Santa gives them a wave. Quite a few people have told me that they only feel Christmas has started when they’ve seen the Santa Bus.”
Charities that will benefit
Last year more than £30,000 was donated. And since 2004, the Santa Bus has raised more than £250,000 for local charities.
This year the Brighton Santa Bus is raising money for 11 charities. They are, Amaze, Chesnut Tree House, East Sussex Credit Union Foundation, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, Ronald McDonald House, Say Aphasia, Take Shelter, The Martlets, Trust for Developing Communities and YMCA Downslink Group.
Across 10 nights, November 27, 28, 29 and December 5, 6, 10, 13, 17 and 18, the money raised will go towards The Martlets only. The other night’s donations will be shared equally between the 10 other charities.
Volunteer elves will be knocking on doors and collecting donations as the bus travel through the city and the suburbs. Brighton and Hove Buses will post envelops through doors the night before for people to display on collection night whether they want anyone to knock on their door.
Donations can also be made online this year here.
Featured Image: The Launch of Brighton and Hove Buses’ Santa Bus. © Photograph: Terry Applin.
