There’s fun for everyone at Blackpool’s Christmas Funfair and Light Show in St John’s Square this festive season with fairground attractions, Christmas-themed food and beverages, amazing light shows, Santa’s Grotto and live entertainment.
The owners of Blackpool’s historic North Pier and operators of some of Blackpool’s most popular rides and attractions on Central and South Piers were asked by Town Centre and BID Manager Eileen Ormand to return to St John’s Square and provide a Christmas Funfair in the town centre to add a touch of magic, wonder and sparkle this festive season.
Blackpool BID and North Pier have put on a bigger Christmas event than ever which includes not just the funfair, but also a light show, food and drink emporium and on Thursday late night shopping evenings, live entertainment on the St John’s performance area.
Due to popular demand there are even more rides and attractions than last year. These include a fantastic train ride, children’s formula one racing cars and motor bikes, spinning tea cups and a mini Miami. Plans are still afoot to bring further rides into St John’s to add to the experience.
A new addition to the Christmas festivities in the town centre this year is an amazing light show produced in partnership with the Illuminations Department. Projectors will display moving images onto the front of the Winter Gardens; lasers will shoot into the night sky; swirling patterns of lights will be displayed on the ground area of the square; and there are illuminated characters including Noddy, Basil Brush and Doctor Who’s Tardis together with a Dalek displayed throughout the area. Christmas trees abound with our beautiful 40ft Christmas tree as the centrepiece.
Father Christmas has already flown in and is in residence in St John’s Square every day until Christmas Eve allowing children of all ages to visit the amazing wonders of Santa’s Grotto and receive a Christmas present. There are even photographs available to mark that special enchanting occasion
To really get everyone in the festive mood a visit to our Food and Drink Emporium in the Square offering Christmas-themed food and beverages including mulled wine, Irish coffee, teas, coffees and hot chocolates as well as bratwurst sausages, hot roasted chestnuts, mince pies and waffles.
Funded by Blackpool BID and the businesses in Blackpool Town Centre, Free Car Parking! Yes! Free Car Parking every Thursday evening from 5pm to 9pm in West Street and East Topping Street Car Parks from the Christmas launch on November 22 right through to December 20. The Houndshill Centre is also matching this offer and their car park is also free on Thursday evenings. The shops and food and drink establishments in the town centre will be open until late on Thursday evenings. Late night shopping has never been easier!
There will also be live entertainment on Thursday evenings in the funfair with song and dance from the North Pier’s “A Merrie Christmas” entertainers including Sara Cheston, Roberts ‘n’ Ashcroft and Chipper and Cherry the Squirrels. More entertainers will be announced during the festive period and local bands and choirs will be performing on stage.
The Radio Wave Chipmunks will be visiting the square every Thursday from 4.30-5.50pm with the chance to win a £50 voucher every week to be spent in a town centre store of your choice.
Eileen Ormand, BID Town Centre Manager said, “ Blackpool BID in association with North Pier is proud to bring this exciting six week Funfair and Lightshow to St John’s Square . The funfair and all its attractions sit side by side with great shops, cafes and restaurants so there really is something for everyone in Blackpool town centre this year. Don’t miss out, make Blackpool town centre your destination for all your Christmas shopping and fun for this very special time of the year”.
The Christmas Funfair and Light Show will open to the public from Thursday 22 November until Saturday 5 January, every day (excluding Christmas Day) from 11am until late evening.