Liverpool is set to light up brighter than ever this festive season, with Christmas kicking off in style on Friday 15th November.
There will be something to appeal to the whole family, with highlights including brand new light installations, a unique Polar Adventure, classic Christmas markets and an Ice Festival at Pier Head.
Christmas will officially arrive in Liverpool with a festive street party at Liverpool ONE on Friday 15th November where visitors can expect panto stars, live music and all the Christmas feels!
Following the River of Light festival which saw the waterfront taken over with 11 light installations at the start of November, Liverpool city centre will be lighting up once more with a brand new, 50 metre LED light tunnel set to take to the skies above Church Alley (connecting Church Street and the Bluecoat), delighting Christmas shoppers with a music and light show every hour from 4.30 to 7.30pm every day.
Royal Albert Dock will also be lit up with a festive light projection display on the inner quayside onto the facade of the Merseyside Maritime Museum; meanwhile a brand new 16-metre walk-through artificial Christmas tree in Williamson Square will be joining Church Street’s traditional fir and the iconic love heart tree at Liverpool ONE.
A trip to the North Pole is on the cards at Chavasse Park this year, as the unique Polar Adventure land train whisks passengers off to a magical pop-up party where they can enjoy music, Christmas stories and take part in festive arts and crafts, all without actually leaving Liverpool ONE.
Repeat visitors to the city can expect some much loved favourites once again with the traditional Christmas markets returning to the picturesque St George’s Plateau and Liverpool Christmas Ice Festival making a comeback on the waterfront while carol-oke returns to the Apres Ski inspired Bar Hutte located underneath Liverpool ONE’s Christmas tree.
There will be plenty of chances to make sure Santa has received your wish list with the big man himself returning for Storytime with Santa at Liverpool Town Hall. You can also catch him at Liverpool’s oldest grotto which is now in place at St John’s Shopping Centre. The iconic Blackler’s Santa will be back on display at the Museum of Liverpool and you can even join St Nick for a sing-along at the magnificent Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, on 14th and 15th December.
It’s not Christmas until you’ve been to the panto and Liverpool’s many theatres are pulling out all the stops with showings of Snow White, Elf, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty taking place across the city. A musical adaptation of iconic film Miracle on 34th Street will be performed on stage at the Playhouse, while Theraplate UK Liverpool International Horse Show is at M&S Bank Arena for something a little different between Christmas and New Year.
This year’s Christmas in Liverpool campaign is again being managed by Marketing Liverpool who hope that visitors will once again choose the waterfront city as their festive destination of choice this Christmas.
Chris Brown, Director of Marketing Liverpool, said of the Christmas in Liverpool campaign:
“After a great festive season for the city last year we are once again looking forward to both welcoming visitors to Liverpool who are looking for the perfect winter break and celebrating the festive season with our local residents.
“With the Christmas market, the new Polar Adventure at Liverpool ONE, the ice rink at the Pier Head and stunning light shows in Church Alley and the Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool presents a great experience in order to enjoy this year’s festive period”
Merseyrail are making it easy to travel around the city region, connecting Liverpool city centre to destinations like Ormskirk, Chester and Southport.
For more information on everything that’s happening in Liverpool this Christmas, head to visitliverpool.com/christmas.