Love Christmas in Blackpool
Oh yes it is! Christmas in Blackpool is bigger and better than ever with a whole sleigh-load of entertainment over the festive period.
The resort is hosting a huge range of family favourites from pantomimes, shows and concerts to shopping, Santa’s Grotto, ice skating and discounted parking offers.
Blackpool Town Centre BID will be kicking off the events on Saturday 21 November with the Christmas Lights Switch-On, with guest performances by X-Factor winner Ben Haenow, Brit Award winners Stooshe and West End star Paul Nicholas with the cast of A Christmas Carol.
A Christmas Carol, which opens at the Winter Gardens on December 4 until January 3, is just one of a number of festive shows this winter including three spectacular pantomimes.
The Grand Theatre presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from 4 December-3 January starring Su Pollard as the wicked Queen and The Blackpool Tower Circus presents Pinocchio with resident clowns Mooky and Mr Boo from 22 November-17 January. The only pantomime on ice in resort is at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which is presenting Dick Whittington on ice from 13 December-1 January.
Also at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ice Arena, Santa Claus’ Grotto is open on selected dates until Christmas Eve along with your favourite characters including Poppy Corn, Kandy Floss and Bradley and Bella Beaver.
And if you fancy an evening of glitz and glamour why not head down to The Sands Venue where you are promised a spectacular evening, or let your hair down at Viva or Funny Girls for their fabulous Christmas shows.
In the town centre, the Town Centre BID will be animating the streets with live entertainment on each Sunday running from 29 November-20 December in St John’s Square or the Winter Gardens if the weather is bad.
Sunday 29 November – The Jurassic Experience – 12noon – 4pm
Get up close and personal with walking, talking, roaring dinosaurs! Adult and infant size models, they will be at the event along with an egg ready to hatch as they give you a taste of the Jurassic Experience. Spectators can get up close and stroke amazing replicas of these extinct creatures and watch as the baby egg hatches!
Sunday 6 December – The Mighty Titan Live in Blackpool – 12noon – 4pm
Come and meet the Mighty Titan as he is set loose on the streets of Blackpool. The famous robot has performed alongside the likes of will.i.am, Will Smith, Rihanna and Jackie Chan.
Sunday 13 December – Floating Angels 12noon- 4pm
Come to meet the Floating Angels as they are set loose around the streets of Blackpool. With their golden curls, neon halos and very silly trumpets the Angels will glide round the streets in their beautiful illuminated costumes. And don’t worry, you won’t miss them as they’re 8ft tall!
Sunday 20 December – Mr Yippadee and Cat from CBeebies Christmas Show – 12.20-3.30pm
For Christmas sing-a-long fun with the chart topping Mr Yippadee and Cat from CBeebies, be in Blackpool December 20. Accompanied with friends, the gang will be entertaining all with magic, dance and songs from 12.30-3.30pm.
There is also a Santa’s grotto in the Winter Gardens grand vestibule.
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool town centre is the place to be this festive season. There are new restaurants to try along with a fantastic line-up of free entertainment hosted by the BID.
“Once again this year we have reduced our parking charges on Thursday nights and Sundays to encourage as many people as possible to visit Blackpool’s vast array of shops, restaurants and theatres.”
You can also take advantage of some great car parking offers with selected dates only costing £1! Park for a Pound will coincide with Thursday late night shopping dates that include November 26 and December 3, 10 and 17. Drivers can park from 5pm until midnight in four Town Centre Council Car Parks; West Street, Central, Talbot multi-storey and East Topping Street for just £1. The Houndshill Shopping Centre will also be taking part in this offer, during late night Thursdays on these dates and times. Park for a Pound will also be available Sunday November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20 in the four Council Town Centre Car Parks.
Eileen Ormand Town Centre and Blackpool BID Manager said: ‘This year, Blackpool Town Centre really does have something for everyone. Fantastic shopping and dining with both national and independent stores and restaurants, fabulous entertainment, shows and attractions. The list of reasons to make Blackpool your no 1 destination this Christmas just goes on. Try late night Thursdays and all day Sundays with the ‘Park for a Pound’ offer. Don’t miss out on Blackpool Town Centre at this very special time of the year”.
There is also the opportunity to sample some of the new food offers in the town centre with national chains Prezzo, Las Iguanas and Ed’s Easy Diner all open in the run-up to Christmas.
And don’t forget that many of Blackpool’s big visitor attractions are open throughout including Blackpool Zoo, SEA LIFE, Madame Tussaud’s, Illuminasia and the Comedy Carpet. The world famous Blackpool Tower, the Tower Dungeon and Sandcastle Waterpark will be open on selected dates, and watch out for Santa’s special tram on the promenade.
VisitBlackpool is also launching its Christmas Advent Calendar where you can win big prizes over the Christmas season. Theatre tickets, pamper days, meals, shopping vouchers, and even the chance to have your image in the Blackpool Illuminations for 2016, plus lots more. There is a spectacular selection of prizes available on the calendar.
The bespoke Advent Calendar is filled with 24 days of offers which will run online at www.visitblackpool.com/christmas from December 1 until Christmas Eve. All prizes on the calendar are available to enter for three days each from December 1 so save the date!
For more information and full listings on what’s on over the festive period in Blackpool and to win BIG on the Blackpool Advent Calendar, go to www.visitblackpool.com/christmas