With just over two weeks to go until Christmas, there are lots of festive things to enjoy in Southport this weekend!
There are lots of great reasons to head into town and enjoy your Christmas shopping, meals out and nights out with the launch of new Christmas markets, the opening of the Cinderella panto with Claire Sweeney, free festive movies at Southport Market and much more besides!
If you know of anything else festive happening please let us know and we’ll add!
1 – Southport Christmas Markets open
A vibrant festive market is coming to Market Street, alongside the side of Southport Market, this Christmas, starting this Friday! (10th December).
Expect to find plenty of local crafts, gifts and treats.
Open Daily: 10am – 6pm.
The event runs from Friday, 10th December until Thursday, 23rd December.
2 – Cinderella panto opens at the Atkinson
Claire Sweeney stars in this pantomime at The Atkinson on Lord Street from Friday 10th December 2021 to Sunday 2nd January 2022.
Bring the whole family to Cinderella, a spellbinding new Christmas pantomime staged in The Atkinson’s traditional theatre.
Cinderella, her wicked Stepmother, the jealous stepsisters, the loveable Buttons, a dreamy Prince Charming and of course Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother will all be making an appearance onstage.
Joining Claire on stage are regular panto pro’s Mia Molloy (Mam, I’m Ere!) as Cinderella, Lewis Pryor (Britain’s Got Talent) as Buttons, Alex Patmore (Blood Brothers) as Prince Charming as well as Tom Burroughs (Local Southport Actor) & Michael Chapman (Beloved Panto Dame) as The Ugly Sisters.
Visit: www.theatkinson.co.uk
3 – Luminate Winter Light Trail
A spectacular after dark light trail is taking place in Southport throughout the festive season.
The captivating Luminate light trail weaves a 1.2km long route around the grounds at the beautiful Victoria Park.
The stunning new event will run until Thursday, 23rd December, starting at 4.30pm each night.
Tickets for the light trail are booked on a starting time slot basis, but you can take as long as you like walking the magical trail.
Visit: luminate.live/southport
4 – Free Christmas movies at Southport Market
Families can discover free Christmas movies too from this Saturday (11th December) in the stylish ‘Extravaganza’ events space, which has been given a special festive makeover for December.
Films being screened this weekend in partnership with Bijou Cinema Southport include The Santa Clause at 11.30am this Saturday (11th December) with The Nutcracker & The Four Realms (1pm) and The Polar Express (4pm) being screened this Sunday (12th December).
Other movies being screened during December will include: Frozen, The Santa Clause, It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf and others.
5 – Sidney Road Lights Lighting Up Party
The famous Sidney Road Lights in Southport is inviting people to its Lighting Up party this Saturday (11th December)!
The stunning event features the front garden of a house on Sidney Road in Southport PR9 7EX, which is covered with an illuminated Christmas tree and thousands of computerised Christmas lights which are synchronised to music.
It has all been created by local engineer and creator Steve Henshall.
The event will raise money for the Freshfields Animal rescue charity.
Shows will run 4.30pm-9pm daily every hour and half-hour.
Visitors can enjoy free hot drinks, sweets and children’s gifts.
Steve Henshall said: “Our Lighting Up Party is on Saturday 11th December at 6pm hosted by Sandgrounder Radio. We will have a group of naughty elves from Starkidz Elftastic Christmas Elves to keep us entertained between performances by Southport Costume Crew who you will remember from our successful Halloween show.
“To keep your tastebuds alert we have our friends from Chocolate Whirled bringing down some of their delicious artisan chocolates, they have also donated a gift voucher which we’ll raffle on the night.
“The event is generously sponsored by Fletchers Legal, we’re giving out hot chocolate, Quality Street and lots of freebies all in return for a donation to Freshfields Animal Rescue.”
6 – Queenscourt Hospice Santa Sprint
The Queenscourt Hospice Santa Sprint, in both the 3k or 5k category, makes its much-awaited return this Sunday (12th December)!
Watch Southport become a sea of red as Santas race around the Pier and the Marine Lake.
This year’s event has kindly been sponsored by Silcock’s and by Hickory’s Smokehouse.
Every participant will receive a Santa suit to wear as they enjoy the route which starts outside Silcock’s Funland at the entrance to Southport Pier. The route then goes around Marine Lake.
All participants will also receive a medal and a complimentary hot drink, courtesy of Silcock’s.
The Old Bank on Lord Street is offering a coffee and a slice of cake to anyone who has taken part in the Santa Sprint following the race.
Closing date for online entry is midday on Thursday, 9th December.
To sign up for the 2021 Queenscourt Hospice Santa Sprint in Southport please visit: www.queenscourt.org.uk
7 – Digital Winter Wonderland
Visit the UK’s first immersive digital Christmas experience right here at Marble Place shopping centre in Southport town centre.
Be transported into a Winter Wonderland, where you can engage in a number of sensory festive activities, and some other entertaining games. Join us to decorate a snowman, catch a snowflake, and even splat a snowball or two!
Provided by Southport BID and local company Immersive Interactive, this takes place between December 4th and December 23rd, with bookings via www.southportbid.com for between 1-10 people
£6 donation for groups of 1-5. £10 donation for groups of 5-10 (per group not per person). All donations will go to Southport Lifeboat.
8 – Gingerbread Family Trail
Similar to the Nutcracker Trail which was in Southport last year, there will be a collection of gingerbread figures placed around Southport.
See if you can spot them in the windows of shops and restaurants across the town centre, and make sure to make a note of their names.
With the Gingerbread Family Trail, people will be asked to find their names, and once they have done so, can enter a competition by posting their answers into Santa’s letterbox in Wayfarers Arcade.
When you have all ten, post your answers in Santa’s letterbox in Wayfarers Arcade, and you will be entered into the draw to win an iPad! You can also send your answers to info@southportbid.com
This is provided by Southport BID and will run until 3rd January.
9 – Trail of Trees
Look out for five more trees accompanying the ‘main’ Lord Street festive tree around town this year.
There will be selfie spots nearby, encouraging people to find them all and take a picture.
Find all five illuminated Christmas trees and take a picture from each of the five selfie spots close by.
Post your pictures from the selfie spots across social media, tagging Southport BID and using #SouthportChristmas for your chance to win a £50 Southport Gift Card.
Provided by Southport BID, this runs between 27th November and 3rd January.
10 – Christmas Sleigh
The Gingerbread Family have left their trusty sleigh at Ocean Plaza. Visit the sleigh and take your best photograph. The Sleigh is wheelchair accessible.
Post your pictures across social media, tagging Southport BID and using #SouthportChristmas for your chance to win a £50 Southport Gift Card.
Provided by Southport BID, this runs between 27th November and 3rd January.
11 – Gingerbread Family Photo-shoot
Strike a pose with some of the Gingerbread Family at Central 12 retail park on Derby Road.
Post your pictures across social media, tagging Southport BID and using #SouthportChristmas for your chance to win a £50 Southport Gift Card.
Provided by Southport BID, this runs between 27th November and 3rd January.
12 – Santa’s Grotto & Frozen Grotto
The BID is working in partnership with Wayfarers Arcade and Southport Lions Club to provide an amazing Grotto experience for children. StarKidz will be providing some of their much-loved characters.
Santa’s Grotto unfortunately has already sold out.
However, families can still enjoy a Frozen themed Grotto, which takes place at Wayfarers Arcade 20th-24th December.
Bookings only via www.southportbid.com
£5 donation per child (includes present). All donations will be distributed to local charities by Southport Lions Club.
Provided, in partnership by Southport BID, Southport Lions Club, and Wayfarers Arcade.
13 – Christmas comes to Southport Market
Southport Market has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland – complete with a new movie room where families can enjoy free festive films!
Throughout December, people can enjoy PG or U rated films which will include: Frozen, The Santa Clause, The Polar Express, It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf and others.
Stunning festive decorations have seen the venue adorned with amazing garlands, giant baubles along with an eye-catching tunnel of light at the entrance.
Children will be able to visit the market’s special North Pole post office drop-off to ensure their letters to Santa are delivered in time for the big day.
The Christmas movies take place from Saturday, 11th December to Thursday, 30th December.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
