Families can enjoy special Santa's grotto and Frozen themed grotto in Southport Town Centre

SANTA and his elves will be setting up shop in a beautifully decorated Christmas grotto in Southport Town Centre this year. And you won't have to Let It Go there either, with a special Frozen themed grotto also taking place.

The grottoes will be situated inside the beautiful Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, located on Lord Street. 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.

Other attractions will include:- the Gingerbread Family Trail, Christmas Elf Parties, Christmas Carriage Rides, the 1st Illustrate Illuminate Trail, and a Festive Fun Day, on:- Saturday, 19 November 2022. See following report on this page...

All proceeds from paid activities will act as charitable donations to be distributed to:- 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:- "Santa's Grotto will take place every Saturday from 19 November through to 17 December. Families will be able to book through the Southport BID website before visiting Santa in his winter hut, where you can tell him all about your Christmas wishes for this year in return for a £10 donation. Afterwards, join our elves to choose a special Christmas gift to take home. This was a huge success last year and sold out quickly. People are encouraged to book early to guarantee a place. Santa will be meeting children in a new festive 'winter hut' in the arcade this year. We have lots of positive feedback last year was about the quality of the presents which children received, this will be similar again this year. We are delighted to once again be working in partnership with Southport Lions Club who provide all the Santas and Elves."

Your booking entitles you to meet Santa in the Grotto and includes:- 1 Christmas gift to take home. Groups with more than 1 child should book multiple slots as required.

Families will be able to enjoy a Frozen Grotto, at Wayfarers Arcade, each day, from:- Wednesday, 21 December 2022, through to:- Christmas Eve, Saturday, 24 December 2022.

Southport BID Head of Operations Luke Randles said:- "We are delighted to be working with local company StarKidz once again to ensure the return of the Frozen theme Christmas grotto, which was really popular with families last year. As Santa is busy preparing for Christmas deliveries, the StarKidz Frozen characters will be visiting the festive grotto at Wayfarers Arcade to share a special experience with all their little friends. Spend some time with Anna, Elsa and friends, and choose a special gift to take home."

Southport BID is asking for a £10 donation per child, which includes:- 1 Christmas gift.

Your booking entitles you to meet the Frozen characters and includes:- 1 Christmas gift to take home. Groups with more than 1 child should book multiple slots as required.

Frozen characters will be provided by Starkidz.

More information on all of this year's events and activities can be found at:- SouthportBID.Com.
 

Festive Fun Day will bring magic of Christmas to Southport this November

PEOPLE are invited to kick off the start of the 2022 Christmas shopping season in Southport with a special Festive Fun Day. The fun, free event, organised by Southport BID and The Atkinson, will take place on Saturday, 19 November 2022, at the Lord Street Bandstand, and the Town Hall Gardens, in Southport Town Centre.

Festive shoppers will be able to enjoy performances from:- local dance Schools at The Bandstand, Christmas Carols in the Town Hall Gardens and the opening day of lots of activities and events.

The Bandstand will host Express Performing Arts Academy, Central Dance Studios, BabyBallet, and local singer Kelly Bond performing Christmas songs between:- 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

The Town Hall Gardens will see people coming together around Southport’s Christmas tree between:- 4pm and 5pm, for traditional carols and classic hits. The event will be hosted by Claire Simmo and Sandgrounder Radio featuring performances from The Atkinson Wellbeing Choir, All Souls Dramatic Club and SONG (Southport Operatic New Generation).

The scene will look beautiful with Southport BID’s 18 metre high, illuminated Christmas tree being installed in the Town Hall Gardens this Monday, 14 November 2022, by local company IllumiDex UK Ltd.

Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said:- "We would love to welcome people to come and celebrate the start of this year’s Christmas shopping season in Southport, on Saturday, 19 November 2022, with lots of superb festive entertainment planned to take place throughout the day. There will be a magical feeling in Southport town centre with performances, songs and carols at the Bandstand and in the Town Hall during the afternoon. Southport BID also has many more Christamas themed attractions taking place in the town during November and December, such as our Gingerbread Family Trail, and our Illustrate Illuminate Trail which will be lots of fun for families and a great way of discovering what our town has to offer."

in 2021, Southport BID made a substantial investment in providing 300,000 LED lights in the trees along both sides of the beautiful Lord Street shopping boulevard in Southport Town Centre which guarantees that real wow factor in the run up to Christmas.

Southport BID Head of Operations Luke Randles said:- "Families will also be able to book places for Santa’s Grotto at Wayfarers Arcade, with the 1st dates opening on 19 November 2022. You will also be able to book places in our new Christmas Carriage Ride, from 19 November onwards, which will be the perfect way of taking in all the lights along Lord Street and admiring Southport’s Christmas tree shining brightly. Why not make a date for Christmas shopping in Southport, on Saturday, 19 November 2022; enjoy the festive entertainment on offer; catch up over a meal or a coffee; or enjoy a stay over. Come and make a day of it in Southport this Christmas!"

All proceeds from paid activities such as the grotto and the carriage ride 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.

More information on all of this year’s events and activities can be found at:- SouthportBID.Com.