Christmas is coming to Southport in style this year, with a whole host of events and attractions to make visits truly magical for families.
The Southport business community, through Southport BID, is funding a flurry of festive projects and activities to create lots of great reasons for people to visit the town centre over the Christmas period, from mid-November through to early January.
These activities include the return of the popular Santa’s Grotto, Frozen Grotto and Gingerbread Family Trail.
New additions to the Christmas programme also include Christmas Elf Parties, the Christmas Carriage Ride, and a Festive Fun Day on Saturday 19th November 2022.
The fabulous town-wide Christmas illuminations will be enhanced by the first Illustrate Illuminate Trail, which will see competition-winning designs from local young people transformed into light motifs.
These activities are in addition to the annual Christmas light displays, which include the signature Christmas tree on Lord Street, five further illuminated trees, lamppost motifs, sail lights and illuminated stars. An estimated 300,000 lights add a festive sparkle to Southport at Christmas each year.
All proceeds from paid activities will act as charitable donations and be distributed to the Southport Lions Club, Southport Lifeboat, and Queenscourt Hospice. Southport BID has again ensured that all BID-funded events are accessible to all.
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “Southport people and visitors to the town will be able to enjoy a wide range of activities and events in Southport town centre that run from Saturday 19th November through to early January.
“We are creating lots of reasons to encourage people to make repeat visits into town to enjoy lots of fun festive events while also visiting local shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and other local businesses.
The Southport Christmas tree has been installed in the Town Hall Gardens by IllumiDx UK Ltd in a scheme commissioned by Southport BID. Photo by Andrew Brown Media
“Throughout this period there will always be something going on that people can enjoy.
“The activities are being organised by Southport BID through funding and support from our Southport town centre businesses. Without them, Southport wouldn’t have the same vibrancy or colour this Christmas.
“The Southport Gingerbread Family Trail will see figures placed in 10 locations around Southport town centre for people to find, plus there will be a sleigh and a throne to find too.
“Our Christmas Carriage is new this year, while we will also be staging our Christmas Grotto and Frozen Grotto inside Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street.
“We would encourage people to try and book early, as both our grottos sold out last year.”
Southport BID Head of Operations Luke Randles said: “We have also been working closely with other organisations which are adding to the Christmas calendar including Marketing Southport, Southport Pleasureland, The Atkinson, Victoria Park and others.
“This is all in addition to the great festive offer which local businesses also provide, they do great work in attracting people into town.
“We have worked alongside Marketing Southport to create a physical and digital brochure for the Southport town centre Christmas programme, which will be released soon. This will include details on all BID-funded activities, a map for both trails, and other key events from our partners in the BID area.
“We are looking forward to producing our Christmas brochures shortly, which will be available digitally, while we are also distributing 5,000 copies to businesses throughout Southport town centre.”
More information on all of this year’s events and activities can be found at www.southportbid.com/christmas
If you require any further information on this year’s Christmas programme, please email: [email protected]
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