The festive season is upon us and we've rounded up a huge guide to the best Christmas events to enjoy in Liverpool and beyond.
Whether you're looking for somewhere to take the kids to meet Father Christmas, a festive day out for all the family, a place to enjoy a magical date night, or a chance to celebrate with friends during the festive season, we've got it covered.
We also know money is tight for a lot of people this year, so we've included plenty of budget friendly options, along with events you don't need to book in advance for those who aren't the most organised. As well as plenty of Christmas activities to enjoy in Liverpool and across Merseyside, there's some other options listed that would make a great festive day out, just a short drive away.
READ MORE: Join the Christmas in Liverpool Facebook group
Whatever you're in the mood for this Christmas, you're bound to find something in our round up, and you can share your own suggestions in the comments below.
Liverpool Christmas Market
The markets will be open from November 19 until Christmas Eve, with plenty of ways for visitors to get into the Christmas spirit. A range of crafters will be selling unique gifts, with a host of festive food and drink stalls to enjoy too.
The bars on offer include a tip bar, windmill bar and new Bavarian bar. Catch local performers at the weekend and belt out a tune yourself with the return of the karaoke ski lifts. You can also enjoy the big wheel, snow slide and Santa land rides in a fun trip out for all of the family.
Born To Be Wild Child party at Liverpool Alpine Village
Bar Hutte, the popular bar beneath Liverpool ONE’s Christmas tree, has teamed up with Born To Be Wild Child to host the event at Liverpool Alpine Village on Chavasse Park. The party will feature festive fun, dancing, crafts and a visit from Santa himself.
The event will be a celebration with lots of family-friendly entertainment. Little ones can be a part of a giant colouring Christmas mural and get involved with balloons, bubbles, parachute dances, games and Christmas crafts.
The Born To Be Wild Child at Liverpool Alpine Village will take place from 11am on Sunday, December 11. Tickets are £10 per adult and £10 per child. Children under two go free. Tickets are available here .
Luna Cinema at St George's Hall
The Luna Winter Cinema will be taking place at St George's Hall from December 10 to December 23, with a line-up of classic Christmas movies including Love Actually, The Holiday and It's A Wonderful Life. There will also be the chance for guests to enjoy a host of family favourites such as Home Alone, Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The neo-classical architecture of the main hall will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland, complete with giant Christmas trees, sparkling lights and a sprinkling of snow. The event, which is returning to St George's Hall after a two-year hiatus, will also include mulled wine, mince pies and popcorn.
Enchanted at Knowsley Safari
Knowsley Safari’s Enchanted, an after-dark trail of magical lights for families to explore, returns this month. From November 19 to December 30, families can enjoy the trail after dark, with festive food, magical music, illuminated animals and some special treats too.
Enchanted gives families the chance to explore the foot safari in a whole new way, following a trail of magical illuminated animals at their own pace. The foot safari will come alive with an enchanting animal trail and forest lights. After dark, groups can adventure along the foot safari to discover the beautiful illuminated animal sculptures, magically lit up woodlands and some festive treats to get everyone in that Christmassy mood.
You can get tickets for Enchanted at Knowsley Safari via the website here . The timeslot you book is to enter the Enchanted Trail, you can arrive anytime from 4pm to enjoy all the festive fun on the foot safari.
'A Winter's Trail' at Sefton Park Palm House
From December 8 until December 22 the landmark will host A Winter's Trail - an immersive walk-through experience based on Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. The trail will feature live performances, food and drink.
The classic story will be brought to life with a host of characters to meet along the way. The event is suitable for all ages and will take visitors on a journey through the story with Scrooge as their tour guide.
The Light Before Christmas at Liverpool Cathedral
The beautiful interior of Liverpool Cathedral will be transformed this December with the arrival of immersive experience ‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!' The iconic building’s Gothic architecture becomes a canvas for a carefully orchestrated sequence of twinkling lights, captivating projections and beautiful music, inspired by the very first Christmas.
The after-dark experience is the work of award-wining artistic collaboration, Luxmuralis, who are renowned for exceptional immersive art installations including the sell-out ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’, which came to Liverpool Cathedral earlier this year. The Christmas experience lasts around 40 minutes and runs from 4.30pm - 8.30pm with sessions starting every 15 minutes. Tickets for ‘The Light Before Christmas: The Angels Are Coming!’ are available now at £8 (adults), £6 (children) or £25 (family ticket admitting two adults and three children), plus booking fee. Entry is free for children under three. Tickets must be booked in advance at ticketquarter.co.uk.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo
The Lanterns have returned to Chester Zoo ahead of Christmas. The event sees visitors experience a festive trail through the zoo, illuminated by life-sized animal puppets and lanterns.
This year there are a number of new features, including a life-sized orangutan in a dazzling UV jungle, a giant polar bear overlooking a magical fairy-tale castle and a stunning snow leopard protecting its mountain home. The trail will also follow a new, longer route.
The Lanterns runs at Chester Zoo until Friday, December 23 with entry slots available from 4pm – 8pm. Child tickets start from £12 and adult tickets start from £15. You can book tickets here .
Pantos and Christmas shows
There's plenty of pantomimes and Christmas shows to go and see across Merseyside this year, oh yes there is. In Liverpool city centre there's Aladdin at the M&S Bank Arena, Little Red Riding Hood at the Everyman and The Scouse Jack and the Beanstalk at the Royal Court.
Elsewhere, there's Cinderella at St Helens Royal Theatre and Aladdin at the Atkinson in Southport. You can read our round up here.
Lightopia at Heaton Park
Lightopia is returning to Heaton Park this Christmas, just under an hour’s drive from Liverpool. From November 24, Lightopia will feature interactive and immersive lights, lanterns, installations and incredible lasers with water-screen multimedia shows.
According to the Lightopia Festival website, this year’s edition will be “brighter than ever with brand new installations and routes”. This year will see the return of ‘A Christmas Fantasy’ which allows families to “embark on a magical journey” through a fantasy themed light trail through the parklands.
Showcasing bright immersive installations, colourful lasers, and water shows, Lightopia is a festive wonderland for all ages. Lightopia returns to Heaton Park from November 24 - January 2, 2023. Tickets are priced at £17.50 for adults and £11 for children. Kids aged two and under go free. Book tickets here .
Christmas bauble making at John Lewis
On Saturday, December 3 at 3pm Katie from Daughter and Dawn Design will be at John Lewis in Liverpool for a festive workshop. In the workshop, visitors can decorate their own Christmas baubles.
Each person can decorate up to two ceramic baubles each, with plenty of different paint colours and ribbons to make your bauble unique. Visitors can also personalise their baubles with paint pens, with paper to practise on beforehand.
Enjoy a mince pie and a festive drink with plenty of Christmas tunes whilst decorating your baubles. Once you’re done, take them home and give them pride of place on your Christmas tree.
You can find John Lewis in Liverpool on 70 S John St, Liverpool L1 8BJ. Find out more about the festive workshop here. Tickets cost £28.
Dancing through the decades Christmas nights at Hilton Hotel
The iconic Hilton Hotel in Liverpool city centre will be hosting a ‘Dancing Through The Decades’ night guaranteed to get visitors into the festive spirit. For those attending, the evening will start with a three course festive menu and a welcome glass of fizz.
After you’ve stocked up on plenty of festive food fuel for dancing, the DJ will host a disco to all your favourite retro tunes. Dates for the event include Friday December 16 and Saturday December 17, as well as Thursday December 22 and Friday December 23. Tickets cost £45 per person. Find out more here.
Singalong with Santa at Liverpool Philharmonic
Father Christmas will be joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Children’s Choirs for a family festive singalong. Join in with Christmas classics including Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.
Expect some seasonal surprises along the way and get ready to hit those high notes. The shows run on December 17 and 18, including a performance with BSL interpreter, Kate Labno. Tickets range from £11-30 and can be booked here. The concerts last for around one hour and are most suitable for children aged four to 10.
Tiny Reindeer outdoor story trail at Calderstones
Located at Calderstones Mansion House, the Tiny Reindeer outdoor story trail takes families on a seasonal journey around the park and is based on Chris Naylor-Ballesteros' book 'Tiny Reindeer'.
The picture book tells the heart-warming story of Santa's smallest helper as he embarks on a Christmas mission, with a special message - that even the smallest beings can do something really big. The trails are self-led and last for around 90 minutes. The events will run from Saturday, November 26 to Friday, December 23, with various time slots to choose from.
The events are perfect for families with children aged four to nine, although all ages are welcome. Tickets are £12.99 per family, which includes a copy of Tiny Reindeer to share along with a map and pencil for every child. For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Camp & Furnace 'Christmas special - the classic double band live'
Camp & Furnace will be hosting a ‘Very Merry’ night of live music on Friday, December 2. Visitors can boogie to all the classics including Frosty The Snowman and Winter Wonderland, all played by The Classic Double Band live.
There will be a range of Christmas cocktails and street food available and Camp & Furnace will be glittering with plenty of Christmas décor. The event starts from 8pm to 1am and fifth release tickets are currently available. Tickets cost £13.75 and a large group discount will cost £8.80. Student discount tickets are also available for £8.25. Grab your tickets here.
Camp & Furnace Bingo Lingo Xmas Special
Camp & Furnace will also be hosting a ‘BINGO LINGO’ Christmas event once again this year. The popular Bingo night will take place on Friday, December 16 and feature all the Christmas classics.
From dance offs to twerk offs and the chance to win festive prizes, ‘BINGO LINGO’ is set to be a memorable night. Described as ‘unlike any other game of Bingo you’ve played before’, visitors can expect ‘raves, tacky prizes, pocket-money and utter chaos’.
The evening consists of five games of three bingo boards with ‘terrible prizes’ to be won, and one ‘strange mother-of-all-prizes’ at the end of the night. Doors open at 6pm and last entry is at 19:30pm with the event finishing at 11pm. Final release tickets are priced at £15.95. Get your tickets here.
Meet Santa at John Lewis
Families will be able to meet Santa at Liverpool’s John Lewis store in the run up to Christmas. Children can meet Santa at the store on selected dates throughout November and December until Christmas Eve.
Those who have made it onto the nice list will take home a LEGO or LEGO Duplo gift and you can buy a photo taken with the big man himself. You can even bring along your dog with a family booking. You can pre-book your photos with Santa too, with souvenirs such as baubles, snow globes, keyrings and more available to choose from. These can also be purchased on the day.
Families must book in advance and up to four children can be included on each booking. Tickets are non-refundable. Every Sunday and Tuesday in November, John Lewis will run a quiet hour for those that need or prefer it. Entry to meet Santa costs £15 per child and you can book online here .
Christmas lights at Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland once again this Christmas. The event is returning to the National Trust venue, which is around a 45 minute drive from Liverpool, on November 18 and will run until January 2, 2023.
Visitors can discover sparkling tunnels of light and dancing lakeside reflections, then walk under giant baubles and beneath trees drenched in jewel-like colour. The trail will feature more than a million twinkling lights as seasonal sounds fill the air with festive fun.
There will also be a number of street food vendors with a number of treats on offer. Visitors can complete their walk under the stars with a festive spiced winter warmer, hot chocolate or toasted marshmallows.
Each year, the popular event tends to sell out quickly, so it's worth booking tickets soon. Tickets are priced at £22.50 for adults and £14.50 for children. Parking is at an additional cost
The trail is open from November 18 to January 2. Is it closed on November 21, 22, 28, 29 and December 5, 12, 25. The trail opens from 4.30pm with last entry 8.30pm (excluding December 24, 26, 31) and closes at 10pm.
Dunham Massey is based in Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ. You can book tickets here .
Santa in the Sky experience at Cheshire Oaks
A huge new Ferris Wheel has opened at Cheshire Oaks, offering guests breath-taking views of the Cheshire skyline. The wheel is located next to the centre’s Christmas tree, which is more than 100 ft tall.
From December, guests will also be able to 'take flight' with Santa as part of the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet’s first-ever Santa in the Sky activity. Families wishing to meet Santa will be able to ride the big wheel with Santa and his right-hand elf in a VIP, never-before-seen experience.
Afterwards, guests will be able to also enjoy a festive treat and a drink at the centre’s Winter Village as part of the ticket price. Those wishing to experience the new Santa in the Sky activity are encouraged to book their slot as soon as possible as tickets are limited. You can book online here .
Drink and dine under a stunning bauble display
A breathtaking Christmas restaurant has created a truly stunning festive display, complete with panoramic views of Liverpool. 14 Bar & Grill, based in Bootle, is a bar and restaurant located on the 14th floor of Daniel House. Its rooftop terrace boasts magnificent views all year round, but it's the new Christmas display that's got people talking.
Diners can now sit back and relax in a space that's majestic enough to enchant even the most dedicated of Scrooges. The restaurant, which is open five days a week, has been kitted out with 50,000 beautifully coloured baubles.
There's also festive garlands adorning the ceiling, complete with twinkling lights, adding a touch of winter magic. The glass windows remain bare, allowing the panoramic far-reaching views to speak for themselves. 14 Bar & Grill can be found at 14th Floor Daniel House, 31 Trinity Road, Bootle, L20 3TB. To make a booking, click here.
Christmas films at the Philharmonic
The Philharmonic is a Liverpool institution, with its famed orchestra offering multiple renditions of classic and legendary music all year round. It's also a firm favourite among many families at Christmas time thanks to its calendar of festive films.
Whatever your favourite Christmas film may be, there's sure to be something that'll delight this year. The beloved 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol will be shown on December 3, while the Judy Garland favourite Meet Me in St Louis will be played on December 18 for those who prefer something a little different, and the classic It's a Wonderful Life will be shown on Christmas Eve at various times. For full details and listings, click here.
Swingin' Christmas at the Philharmonic
Another Philharmonic venture, superstar composer, arranger and conductor, Andrew Cottee will join an array of talented vocalists to deliver a special, glitzy evening of festive favourites. Songs featured will include those made popular by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and Judy Garland.
It aims to be an evening to please, with the Christmas songs everyone knows and loves. Featured songs include everything from the iconic ‘Winter Wonderland’ to ‘The Christmas Waltz’. There will also be the accompaniment of the full orchestra to add depth - and swing.
The event takes place on Saturday, December 10, with two times to choose from. To book tickets, click here.
Winter market at Sefton Park Palm House
The iconic dome-shaped glass Victorian building is a beautiful south Liverpool spot all year round, packed with lush flora and fauna. It operates as a charity and regularly plays host to a variety of events including gigs, film screenings, music shows, dance nights and even weddings.
This Christmas, shoppers on the hunt for gifts and treats away from the high street will be able to take advantage of three days of festive shopping from an array of local makers and sellers. Opening from 2pm until 8pm on Friday, November 19, the evening will include plenty of stalls to shop, accompanied by festive carols, and a selection of tasty food to tuck into.
There'll also be mulled wine and mince pies aplenty to help people stay warm in the winter temperatures. If that date doesn't suit, there's two more to choose from.
From 10am until 5pm on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, shoppers will be able to peruse the products of new and returning traders, while also enjoying live music and more hot food. For more information, click here.
Magical Family Christmas Experience at Otterspool Adventure
Families can find a Santa’s grotto, ice rink, festive show and ‘make a bear’ elf workshop at Otterspool Adventure this Christmas. The Magical Family Christmas Experience is launching on November 19 and will run on selected dates up until Christmas Eve.
Families visiting the event can enjoy up to three hours of festive themed activities as well as unlimited play on the usual attractions. Tickets are on sale now and priced from £24.95 for adults and children over one, depending on date of visit. You can find out more about the experience and book tickets here.
Duke Street Market film screenings
Duke Street Market will be hosting a series of festive film screenings this December. Visitors can enjoy showings of Christmas classics including The Holiday and Love Actually as part of a date night, night out with friends or work Christmas party. The events are priced at £25 and include a Christmas cocktail on arrival and a sit down meal in addition to the film screening.
On Tuesday, December 6, the city centre venue will show the hit 2006 romantic comedy, The Holiday. Then, on Tuesday, December 13, the 2003 Christmas-themed film Love Actually will be shown. Tickets to the events are available to book now and can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Christmas bottomless brunch
Bottomless brunches are huge in Liverpool and now several venues are putting a festive spin on the boozy breakfasts. Jimmy's is hosting festive bottomless brunch packages for £35 per person, which includes an array of popular cocktails such as pornstar martinis, along with a choice of beers, spirits and many more drink options. The food will be provided by Jimmy's kitchen residents, HEY BAO BAO and the menu includes any bao, plain waffle fries and a side with a pot of sweet chilli sauce.
Wood Street venue Belgica is hosting 'Bottomless Christmas' events, which includes three small plates per person, as well as unlimited selected Belgian beer and cocktails, mulled wine, eggnog, Baileys, Port, spirits and mixers, and Prosecco. There'll also be complimentary mince pies and Christmas crackers. These run until December 23 and are £40 per person.
The Cosy Club is doing Cosy's Festive Brunch for £35 per person, with an unlimited supply of prosecco, mimosas or bloody Mary’s and food options including a Classic Breakfast and sweet Buttermilk Pancakes.
Southport grottos and illuminations
The Southport business community, through Southport BID, is funding a range of festive projects and activities spanning from mid-November to early January. The events include the return of the popular Santa's Grotto, Frozen Grotto and Gingerbread Family Trail.
New additions for this year include Christmas elf trails, a Christmas carriage ride and a festive fun day on Saturday, November 19. This year, the town-wide illuminations will be enhanced by the Illustrate Illuminate Trail, which will see competition-winning entries from local young people transformed into impressive light motifs.
The events will be in addition to the usual annual Christmas light displays, which include the signature Christmas tree on Lord Street, five further illuminated trees, lamp post motifs, sail lights and illuminated stars. All proceeds from paid activities will be distributed between the Southport Lions Club, Southport Lifeboat and Queenscourt Hospice.
Storytime with Santa
Families can enjoy a magical Christmas story with a difference as a series of Storytime with Santa events come to Liverpool Town Hall. Join Father Christmas and his friend, Buddy the Elf, as they share magical stories and sing songs in front of their cosy log fire.
The festive event will be running from December 3 to December 24. The event is aimed at children aged one to 10 years old. Tickets are priced at £22 per child, with two adults able to accompany them free of charge.
Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and booking is advised to avoid disappointment. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Liverpool Town Hall website.
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