When: 11th December 2016
Where: Greenwich, London
£: Costs £50 per horse to enter (two people in a horse costume). Corporate entry also available. Opening ceremony and race is free for spectators. After race party costs £15 on the door.
What is it?
The London Pantomime Horse Race will take place on Sunday 11th December in Greenwich, with the theme of ‘United Neightions’.
Countries, or ‘Neightions’, taking part will include Zimbabwe, Spain, Kiribati, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Swaziland, Argentina, Tunisia, Sweden, Ireland, Columbia, Taiwan, USA , Mexico, and of course, Great Britain.
The wacky event, now in its 7th year and described as the ‘daftest race event of its kind’, regularly attracts hundreds of spectators and special guest appearances.
Performing at the traditional Pre-Race Ceremony – a very tongue-in-cheek low/no budget version of The Olympic Opening Ceremony – will include the 2015 Christmas number one chart winners, The NHS Choir, who will also be joined on stage by Squeeze frontman Glen Tilbrook. Internet parody song sensation The Singing Dentist will also be joining the choir, in a parody rendition of Pharrell Williams’ Happy, renamed Gappy.
During the show, specially selected ‘horses’ will be competing in a world disco championship version of Strictly Neigh Dancing. And just before the race, a street procession of cantering ‘horses’ will be led by Greenwich-based New Orleans style band, The Old Jelly Rollers.
At 1pm, The London Pantomime Horse Race will begin. The race will see the poor nags take on a gruelling seven-pub pit-stop course, around the streets of Greenwich; before the best five performing ‘horses’ are selected to take on the final challenge towards the finish line, via the use of Space-Hoppers.
Greeting the winner at the finish line will be The Cheeky Girls, who will then go on to perform at the lively After-Race Xmas party, which will also feature the UK’s leading tribute to U2, U2 Tribe.
The public will be able to back their favourite ‘horse’ before the race itself, by donating to their justgiving page. All money raised online, and from the day’s events, will go direct to this year’s nominated children’s charity, The Sick Children’s Trust.
More info: www.pantohorserace.org and www.facebook.com/pantohorserace