There’s nothing quite like a festive day out to put you in the mood for Christmas. Think ice skating surrounded by sparkling lights, tucking into tasty warm treats and paying a visit to Santa in his grotto.
This year you can enjoy all of these Christmassy delights and more at Blackpool as the seaside resort is transformed into a winter wonderland. And for those who are keeping their fingers crossed for a white Christmas this year, you can even experience actual snowfall (yes - you read that correctly) while looking out onto the beach.
Christmas By The Sea is a family-friendly event which is returning to Blackpool for the second time, having first launched last year. The festive event was so popular that it brought in record visitor numbers to the town.
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The Christmas village is open from now until January 2 as the resort’s illuminations stay open for an extended season. The village is located on the Tower Festival Headland, opposite Blackpool Tower, and promises a range of festive experiences.
Take to the ice or walk through the snow
For those who are feeling brave enough to put on a pair of skates there’s an ice rink which is completely free to use - perfect if you’ve always wanted to give it a go but unsure if you’d enjoy it. The 20m rink is overlooked by Blackpool Tower and the stunning Illuminations, which provide a magical backdrop as you glide around on the ice.
Ice skating is tiring work so afterwards head to the Christmas chalets where you can warm up with a hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine. There’s plenty of delicious treats to choose from as well, including traditional Bavarian sausages, warm churros and Yorkshire pudding wraps.
Christmas time is synonymous with snowy scenes, but let’s face it, the white stuff rarely makes an appearance - especially at the seaside. But you can enjoy a wintry walk along the Comedy Carpet thanks to regular snowfalls bursting out of cannons based on the headland - just be sure to remember your woolly hat.
Fairground rides and festive trams
Of course a visit to Blackpool wouldn’t be complete without a few rides and this year Christmas By The Sea features a selection of festive fairground rides for children. There are Candy Cane Bungee Trampolines, Santa Claus’ Tea Cups, Santa’s Sleigh and a magical carousel.
For a thrilling experience with incredible views, take a seat on the Star Flyer, Europe’s tallest travelling swing ride. Standing at 260ft tall, you’ll be able to look out over the illuminations from above.
If heights aren’t your thing then hop on board one of Blackpool’s Christmas-themed heritage trams for a festive tour, which will take you to Bispham and back in around 30 minutes. On board the tram is a post box offering first-class delivery to Father Christmas himself. The festive tram tours cost £6 per adult and £3 per child and can be booked online.
Visit Santa in his grotto
For the ultimate festive experience, kids can meet Santa in person at the Christmas Grotto Wonderland at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where they can receive a special gift ahead of the big day. They’ll also be handed a bauble-making kit, a packet of reindeer food and a magic key which they can use on Christmas Eve.
The grotto also features an Alice in Wonderland themed ride where you can take a trip in a Cheshire Cat carriage. Tickets for the grotto cost £16.99 per person, if booked online in advance, and includes a gift from Santa. A grotto ticket covers complimentary entry for two accompanying adults within the grotto. For more details click here.
Magical displays light up the sky
Once darkness falls you can enjoy Blackpool’s iconic Illuminations, which are running for an extended season this year until January 2. There will be some incredible light displays and installations to enjoy, as well as lots of photo opportunities and selfie points.
This year visitors can experience the largest installation ever to be seen in the Blackpool Illuminations, named Odyssey. It's comprised of six huge towers with a real-time interactive floor. You can also walk through a giant illuminated bauble, made up of 7,000 tiny lights.
Blackpool Tower will be lit up with mesmerising audio-visual displays projected onto the building, which are completely free to watch. Visitors can enjoy shows including the Frost Fairies, Down The Rabbit Hole and Enchanted Blackpool.
For more details about Blackpool's Christmas events, click here.
For more of the latest What's On news, click here.
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