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.

Here are just some of the things for all the family to enjoy:

Have a splashing time… Join Sandcastle Waterpark on selected dates throughout the festive period; visitors can enjoy 10% discount if pre-booking online entering promotion code VBWINT10. Bookings can be made up to 9.30am on the day of your visit. Santa will also be visiting the Waterpark on 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 December and you can book to visit him in his Grotto at 10am-11.30am or 3pm-5pm on these dates. Tickets can be booked online at www.sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk

Lights fantastic…

Come and see the festive lights that adorn Blackpool’s Town Centre, brought to you by BID, multi-coloured ever-twinkling lights make up the display along Talbot Road and Abingdon Street, with dazzling snowflakes and the return of the traditional Christmas tree taking pride of place in St Johns.

Meanwhile Brilliance on Birley Street will be displaying traditional Christmas themed shows. Journey to the promenade and you’ll discover an array of multi-coloured festive lights, including 5800 programmable lights on The Blackpool Tower that forms an ever changing pattern on the iconic building making it visible from miles away.

This year there is a special treat as the Winter Gardens becomes a giant projection screen -with a fabulous multitude of Christmas designs and themes projected all over the frontage, the true magic of the Christmas season is being portrayed in what is the largest nightly projection of its type in Lancashire this Christmas.

The Blackpool Christmas lights shine nightly from 3.30pm-11pm from Saturday 19 November until January 5.

Watch timeless classics on the big screen…

This Christmas, treat yourself and the family to watch one of these four timeless classics as they appear on the big screen at the Winter Gardens Opera House. It’s a Wonderful Life returns to the Winter Gardens on 17th December or watch Miracle on 34th Street on 18th December. Make Christmas Eve magical with two family favourites, at 11am watch Disney’s epic Frozen with lyrics on screen to sing along too, then at 3pm Polar Express 3D returns. Tickets are priced at £5, for further information or to book tickets go to http://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/

It’s snow joke Santa’s really coming…

Come and watch Santa’s arrival at the Houndshill on Saturday 3rd December. Visit Santa in his festive grotto everyday throughout December and the week of Christmas between 10am-4pm. For more information go to www.houndshillshoppingcentre.co.uk

Ever fancied being Santa Claus for the day?

Get the whole family ready for the Blackpool Santa Dash 2016 in aid of Trinity Hospice. Make your way down to the Sandcastle Waterpark for a short walk to Central Pier and back singing Christmas songs all the way! For more information go to www.trinityhospice.co.uk/events/santa-dash-2016/

Let your imagination run wild…

At The Blackpool Tower Circus with their fun festive Winter Pantomime – Jack and the beanstalk, starring Britain’s favourite clowns Mooky and Mr Boo! For more information go to www.theblackpooltower.com

Fly with on a magic carpet ride to Old Peking in this fantastic family adventure!

Join the poor street urchin Aladdin on his quest to win the heart of the beautiful Jasmine and retrieve a mysterious oil lamp for his long lost uncle, the evil sorcerer Abanazer in disguise. For more information go to www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

The Snowman is coming to Blackpool Tower this Christmas

Join Blackpool Tower this December 18th for the musical masterpiece The Snowman, brought to you by Carrot Productions. Hear some of the UK's top musicians perform Howard Blake's beautiful soundtrack in perfect synchronicity with the film shown on the big screen. For more information go to www.theblackpooltower.com

Join the festive fun at Pleasure Beach…

Celebrate Christmas with a visit to the Nicktoons grotto where all your favourite Nicktoons characters will be getting festive! Visit Santa in his grotto and receive a Nickelodeon gift. Go to www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com for further information.

Get your Culture fix at the Neon Exhibition

NEON: The Charged Line is a highly acclaimed exhibition of neon-based artworks showing at The Grundy Art Gallery until the end of the year. It features works by some of the world’s leading artists, including Tracy Emin and “Young Brit” Gavin Turk.

Go to www.grundyartgallery.com

Christmas Parking

Take advantage of discounted parking fees this Christmas and make a start on that Christmas shopping! With parking only £1 from 5pm at selected Council Car Parks and Houndshill Shopping Centre* there has never been a better excuse to visit the town centre this festive period.

*Council Car Parks – West Street, East Topping Street, Central and Talbot Multi Storey Car Parks. Thursdays in December include 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Sundays including 4th, 11th and 18th of Dec. £1 parking 5pm-Midnight.*Houndshill Shopping Centre – Thursdays only. 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd December. £1 parking after 5pm on Thursdays.

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.”

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.

For more information and full listings on what’s on over the festive period in Blackpool go to www.visitblackpool.com/christmas

Posted on Wednesday 30th November 2016