Southport is set to enjoy an incredibly festive weekend with lots of Christmas themed events and attractions to enjoy!
The fun includes ice skating at Victoria Park; drive-in Christmas movies at Victoria Park; a Southport Gingerbread Trail; a pantomime at The Atkinson; Santa and Elf visits at Southport Market; festive films at Bijou Cinema Southport; Christmas carriage rides; Christmas grotto; and much more besides!
All this and the chance to enjoy some Christmas shopping in Southport town centres, or surrounding villages such as Ainsdale, Birkdale, Churchtown or High Park, while grabbing something to eat or drink at a local restaurant, cafe or bar.
If you’re out this weekend please post your pictures into our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group!
Ice skating at Victoria Park
Photo by Andrew Brown Media
North West Marquee Hire and Southport TV, the team behind the hugely popular Oktoberfest in Victoria Park in October, are carrying on their German-themed experience this December.
Ice Skating Southport is an epicentre of all things entertainment this Christmas, with ice skating for all the family (over 4 years old) in a heated Bavarian themed marquee every day until 23rd December, 5pm-10pm weekdays and 11am-11pm weekends. .
Expect German food and beer, themed party nights at the weekend, DJs, singers, loads of seating and tables and much much more, so even if you don’t want to ice skate, come dine and drink and watch the ice skating or one of the many entertainers on stage.
Ice Skating starts at £9 for under 12s, £12.50 for everyone over 12 and a family of 4 tickets is £38.
Kids helmets are offered at no charge and there are penguin skating aids available should you wish to hire one at £4.
Check their socials Facebook – Ice Skating Southport and Instagram – IceSkatingSouthport and their web site www.IceSkatingSouthport.com
Drive In Christmas Movies
The ultimate Christmas drive-in cinema is coming to Southport this December!
The event will feature all of your festive favourites on the BIG screen at Victoria Park in Southport between Friday, 9th December and Sunday, 18th December 2022.
Bookings are available here: www.moonlightdrivein.co.uk
There will be movies perfect for families including: Elf, Frozen, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, The Muppets A Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Nativity, Nativity 2, The Santa Clause, Deck The Halls, and Jingle All The Way.
Older movie-goers will love films including Die Hard, Die Hard 2, It’s A Wonderful Life, Love Actually and Last Christmas.
There will be a choice of film times too with matinees at 2.30pm, evening showings at 6pm and evening screenings at 8.30pm.
The Moonlight Drive In is the only drive-in cinema experience in Southport this Christmas, featuring films for both the little and big kids – all within the picturesque grounds of Victoria Park.
Christmas Carriage Rides, Christmas Grotto and Gingerbread Trail
Southport BID has organised a whole host of fun festive activities designed to make your visit to town a magical one!
Children will love discovering 10 different Gingerbread figures along with a throne and a sleigh throughout Southport town centre.
Their names are from countries around the world, having been chosen by pupils at Holy Trinity primary School in Southport.
You can download a Gingerbread Trail Map and discover other BID Christmas activities on their website here.
People can also enjoy an Illustrate Illuminate Trial, finding Christmas decorations that have been created by young people.
There are other BID activities such as a Christmas Grotto, Christmas Carriage Rides, Elf Parties etc, subject to booking and availability.
Read More: Southport BID CEO thanks businesses for investing in Southport this Christmas
Win your Christmas presents at Silcock’s Funland
People can have fun while winning their Christmas presents at Silcock’s Funland in Southport.
The popular family attraction on the Promenade is open every day this winter, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Creating a grand entrance to Southport Pier, Southport’s largest family amusement centre is a perfect place for visitors to enjoy whatever the weather.
The attraction offers a wide variety of children’s games, children’s rides and Southport’s best Ticket Game Zone where the games are fun to play and easy to win.
Inside Funland you will find the £1 Snack Bar which offers toasties, paninis, sandwiches, skinny fries, jacket potatoes, snacks plus hot and cold drinks from just £1 each.
Visitors can have a giggle walking through the Funland Hall of Mirrors.
Aladdin panto at The Atkinson
Bring the whole family to Aladdin, an action-packed pantomime staged in The Atkinson in Southport until 31st December 2022.
TV and film sensation Patsy Kensit stars as the Genie of the Lamp!
Joining Patsy on stage are a fabulous cast of panto pros. Merseyside dancer and actor Dominic Gore charms as our hero Aladdin. Talented singer Mia Malloy is the beautiful Princess Jasmine. Southport’s very own Tom Burroughs deserves all the boos and hisses as the evil Abanazer. The hilarious Michael Chapman and Lewis Pryor will have you laughing out loud as Widow Twankey & Wishee Washee. Local broadcaster Claire Simmo dazzles as the Spirit of the Ring.
Aladdin tells the legendary rags to riches story of a Chinese street urchin who falls in love with a beautiful princess. Will Aladdin overcome the evil Abanazar and be free to marry his Jasmine? Will the Genie of the Lamp gain her freedom? Will Widow Twanky & Wishee Washee get the laundry done in time?!
Visit: www.theatkinson.co.uk
Santa and elf visits at Southport Market
Southport Market is once again turning into a winter wonderland this festive season for those of all ages!
With special visits from Santa Claus and his elves, as well as a magical line up of Christmas film showings, Southport Market is the place to be in December.
Little ones are being invited to bring their Christmas wish lists and meet with the big man himself between Saturday 10th and Friday 23rd of December.
Elsewhere the Market’s Extravaganza events space will play host to a series of festive film showings, completely free of charge, between Saturday 10th December and Wednesday 4th January.
The Market has been beautiful transformed into a winter wonderland by Enhance Events in Southport.
For football fans, all England games and the World Cup Final are being screened at the Market, while admirers of festive crafts can take part in a specialist Wreath Making Workshop on Thursday 8th December.
More: Southport Market hosts Christmas fun including Santa visits, festive movies and wreath making
Santa Sprint for Queenscourt Hospice
Queenscourt’s festive fundraiser, the Santa Sprint, will make a welcome return this Sunday (11th December 2022) and the hospice would love you to turn Southport a sea of red once again.
The event, which celebrates its 13th anniversary has raised over £100,000 since its inception and is a full family affair – even your pet dog can take part!
There will be both a 3K and 5K route for you to walk, jog or run. The routes, which start at Silcock’s Funland on the Promenade, are also suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs and buggies, so there’s even more reason to take part.
This year Silcock’s are giving all Santa’s a free ride on the famous carousel.
Bacon or sausage barns will be on sale for just £1 each
Silcock’s is once again sponsoring the event with a £1,000 donation to Queenscourt.
Entry costs £20 for adults, £10 for under 16s or £50 for a family of two adults and two children.
To join the fun, you can sign up online at www.queenscourt.org.uk/santasprint, call 01704 517420, or email fundraising@queenscourt.org.uk.
Sparkling Christmas tree and lights along Lord Street
Southport is the sparkliest town in the UK this year thanks to a Southport BID initiative to create a ‘boulevard of lights’ along Lord Street.
The BID contracted Southport firm IllumiDex UK Ltd to install 300,000 lights along the entire length of Lord Street, while also installing a giant 18 metre high Christmas tree with mesmerising colour-changing displays thanks to 25,000 LED pixels, and illuminated Christmas decorations through Southport town centre.
Enjoy Christmas in style at The Grand
December has arrived and the countdown is on for the biggest day of the year!
Southport’s hottest new venue, The Grand on Lord Street has put together a festive programme of fun to make your Christmas celebrations stress free and fabulous!
Steeped in twinkly lights, and opulent trees and garlands The Grand exudes festive grandeur for added sparkle,
The stunning, recently opened and oozing in art deco elegance, Princess Grace Function Suite will be hosting a series of sensational Gala Dinner party nights with some of the country’s leading tribute acts performing a selection of the biggest hits across the decades.
Enjoy a sumptuous 3-course festive feast, first class live bands followed by a DJ and Disco and a late bar for £75 per person.
Full Christmas details are available to download here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2d4444762b.html
Whether you love the old classics, the floor-fillers, the tear-jerkers or the foot-tapping, sing-a-long number 1’s there is a Gala Dinner night to please every musical taste and a line-up to take you down memory lane. Coming up are:
Saturday 10th December Bon Jovi
Friday 16th December Tina Turner
Saturday 17th December Dire Straits
If you are looking to swap gifts with friends and colleagues or spend quality time with a loved one, then call in at The Grand Brasserie for a luxurious Festive Afternoon Tea on Saturday 10th December at 1pm where you will be entertained by David Broe.
Take a ride on Silcock’s Carousel
One of Southport’s most iconic attractions will remain open in the lead-up to Christmas and throughout winter.
Herbert Silcock’s 121-year-old Carousel will thrill visitors every weekend and will also be open every day except Christmas Day during the school Christmas holidays.
The remarkable ride was built in 1901, in the reign of Queen Victoria, and has entertained hundreds of thousands of delighted families ever since.
It stands proudly at the entrance to Southport Pier, next to Silcock’s Funland and Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant.
Silcock’s Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince said: “We are delighted that the Carousel is open for people to enjoy.”
Tickets for all riders on Silcock’s Carousel are £2 each. Small children must be accompanied by an adult.
Christmas Movies at Southport Bijou Cinema
Southport Bijou Cinema has revealed its lengthy list of Christmas movies and shows that people can enjoy this December!
The independent cinema, on Post Office Avenue in Southport town centre, has become famous for the top quality of its festive family favourites.
This year guests can enjoy films for film fans of all ages, including a double bill of Home Alone and Home Alone 2; Die Hard (yes, of course it’s a Christmas movie); Arthur Christmas; Gremlins; Elf; It’s A Wonderful Life; and more.
Southport Bijou Cinema Manager Andy Harrison said: “We Bijou a Merry Christmas!
“The Bijou Christmas line-up is here and tickets are now available!
Read More: See the full Christmas line up at Southport Bijou Cinema here.
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