IN RECENT years there has been a distinct lack of Christmas cheer on offer in Southampton, but this year the stage is set for a truly spectacular festive celebration.

Santa and his reindeer will soar through the sky over Above Bar in a UK first as part of the jaw-dropping centrepiece to the city’s new Southampton Christmas Festival.

Recent markets were criticised by civic chiefs for being “underwhelming” and failing to stand out from other cities.

And the city did not even have a Christmas tree until the Daily Echo stepped alongside local businesses to ensure the city could celebrate the festive season in style.

But this year the Christmas festival will kick off on Saturday under the management of new German organisers.

They hope that more than one million people will visit the city centre over the festive season to see the new market and flying Santa.

The city council handed the contract to run the festival to WELA Märkte after putting the contract to run the market out to tender.

The new festival will run from Saturday through to December 23 with the company saying it will offer the feel of a genuine German market to visitors.

Rows of individually-designed Alpine chalets will take their place in Above Bar offering traditional German bratwurst sausages, waffles, gingerbread hearts and candied fruit.

Klaus Biedermann and Mexx2 will provide a traditional Bavarian musical accompaniment to the festival every year.

And at the centre of the whole festival will be the twice-daily flight of Santa – aka high-wire artist Falko Traber – between the WestQuay Shopping Centre and the Bargate.

Starting at 5pm on Saturday (Nov 14) he will soar along a zipwire, 25m in the air, before opening the doors of a giant advent calendar and offering presents to children.

Each performance will last for about 20 minutes.

Mr Traber has held seven world records during a four decade-long career as a high-wire artist.

His astonishing stunts have seen him stand on his head on a bicycle on a wire on Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, and spend 13 days and nights on a high wire.

Andree Langenscheidt, from WELA Märkte, said: “We are very proud and pleased to arrange and manage the new Southampton Christmas Festival.

“This festival is completely new and it’s the first time that Flying Santa has ever come to the UK.”

City council communities, leisure and culture chief Satvir Kaur said: “Christmas is almost upon us and I cannot wait to kickstart Southampton’s celebrations.

“There will be something for everyone to enjoy and I am sure the UK’s first flying Santa will bring a smile to everyone’s face.

“A lot of hard work and planning has gone into this year’s festival which promises to be new and exciting.

“I hope residents and visitors alike delight in Southampton’s best-ever Christmas.”

The festival will be open from 10am to 8pm, seven days a week.