Enjoy The Festive Season
In Preston And The Fylde!
There is a lot going on in our area to celebrate the magical time of Christmas including some free parking! Here is what visitors can expect this festive season…
PRESTON
The Christmas Lights Switch on kicks off the Christmas countdown on 18th November on the Flag Market from 5.30pm with guests including Coronation Street’s Anthony Cotton, singers Max and Harvey and 80s disco legends, Odessey. The Guild Hall foyer will be hosting some craft workshops from 22nd November that include a lino printing workshop and Christmas plate bauble decorating. The foyer will also be hosting family festive films in December including The Fright before Christmas – Anna and the Apocalypse and The Muppets Christmas Carol.
On Saturday 2nd December, join more than 100 singers from different choirs coming together on the Flag Market to sing all the favourite carols and Christmas songs. Choirs include Women Rockin’ Harmony, Red Rosettes, Ribble Rousers, Intact Singers, Soundskills Songsters boosted by Bolton Belters.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is being spectacularly brought to life this Christmas at Preston Playhouse between 8th and 20th December.
If history is your thing, why not join the talk on Three Georgian Christmases in Winckley Square at the Central Methodist Church? Enjoy a cosy Christmassy afternoon with the Friends of Winckley Square and be greeted by Christmas music whilst you enjoy a mince pie, mulled wine (0%) or hot chocolate, sitting in the very comfortable seats from the Odeon Cinema. The afternoon includes a Georgian Christmas slide show followed by the talk by Susan Douglass. The date is 14th December from 1.30 until 3.30pm.
Visiting the city centre on 9th and 10th December will be a must for Christmas lovers. The Makers Market returns to the Flag Market on the 9th and while you are there, why not pop across to Preston Markets where you will find Victorian Carol Singers and a free Santa’s Grotto? The Winckley Christmas Concert returns to Winckley Square on the 10th where you can join in traditional Christmas Carols around the Christmas tree with St Stephens choir and lots of entertainment, and the wonderful sounds of Kenny on bagpipes will resound around the Square once more. Meet up with friends and family and enjoy the entertainment with mulled wine, mince pies, parched peas, hotdogs and much more from the food stalls and pop-up licensed bar.
On 16th December, Preston Markets will host another free Santa’s Grotto this time, with a Santa’s Treasure Hunt.
You can find further details of these, other events and free parking offer on the Visit Preston website: visitpreston.com/whats-on/Christmas-in-Preston-2023
FYLDE
Fylde Council will be offering free parking on the weekends leading up to Christmas this year to help make your Christmas shopping experience that little bit easier. For three weekends in December – 7th and 8th, 14th and 15th and 21st and 22nd – all Council owned Pay and Display car parks will be free to use all day.
Festivities begin on Saturday 18th November with a fun-packed day in Lytham ahead of the famous Christmas lights switch on from 5pm.
Santa, the Mayor of Fylde and the Lytham Town Crier will be judging shop window displays from 2pm, with Clifton Street pedestrianised to allow entertainment all along the street in a build up to the main event. From 4pm, the lantern parade and community will begin from St Peter’s Church. A full programme of entertainment will begin at 5pm when the lights are switched on by former EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison with hosts Graham Liver and Peter Anthony.
Over in St Annes, this year’s Christmas lights switch on will be held on 25th November. Once again, Santa will be visiting satellite shopping areas bringing good cheer and presents to local children between 12 and 3pm. Churches Together will perform a nativity ceremony complete with carols in the Amphitheatre. Musical entertainment begins on the main stage from 4pm with community groups, schools and performers before the switch on at 5.30pm.
Don’t miss Kirkham’s Christmas Markets events on 25th November. From 10am until 6pm, you can enjoy more than 40 stalls that include Christmas crafts, gin stalls, woodcraft, pet stalls, cheese, artisan bread, fudge, pies, cakes, sauces, coffee and more! Plus a visit from Santa, the Grinch and Christmas elves.
Visit their Facebook page for more information.
Over at Ribby Hall Village, step into an enchanted wonderland in this all-new Grotto experience running until Christmas Eve. Your journey begins as you walk through the magical festive woodland in search of Santa’s Elves. This interactive trail leads you to Santa’s Grotto where you’ll gather reindeer dust, cast magical spells and write your Christmas Wish List under the guidance of Head Elf. The magic continues as you step inside to meet the Big Man himself. Remember this special moment with a souvenir family photo and a cuddly toy for the little ones.
Visit: ribbyhall.co.uk for more details on this and the Peter Pan pantomime!
If wreath making is your thing, join willow weaver Annie at World Horse Welfare at Penny Farm near Blackpool on Sunday, 26th November between 1.30pm and 3.30pm to create a natural wreath to take home with Christmas afternoon tea included! Also on 26th November, Lytham Hall starts its ‘A Not So Silent Night’ musical journey through the spectacular Georgian Hall. It will be a sight to behold as Fylde’s finest heritage asset comes alive in a festival of light.
Check out: lythamhall.org.uk for more.
The Lytham Heritage Group is holding a Christmas Fayre on Friday, 1st December from 10am at the Heritage Centre on Henry Street and Marvins Lytham will host mini Christmas Markets on 10th December with live music from The Coustics.
It’s not Christmas without a visit to a pantomime! This year, the Lowther Pavilion Theatre is running Jack and The Beanstalk from Saturday 9th December until Wednesday 3rd January. Featuring breathtaking scenery, dazzling costumes, spectacular singing and plenty of traditional pantomime, the show is the perfect festive entertainment for all the family.
Sounds in the Palace take place on Wednesdays throughout the year at St Annes Palace, Garden Street between 1pm and 2.30pm. Join Emma Louise Jackson on 13th December where you are bound to sing along to some festive favourites.
You can find further details of these and other events on the Discover Fylde website:
discoverfylde.co.uk
WYRE
The Market Cross on Garstang High Street is hosting the big switch on of Garstang’s Christmas lights. Starting at 6pm on Monday 27th November, the switch on event promises to be a traditional family celebration with music, carols and a warm festive feeling! And don’t forget the popular Garstang Victorian Christmas festival which is a community event on the high street of Garstang. Local businesses open late on 4th and 5th December and stalls and organisations flock the street with lots of festive treats and gifts for all the whole family.
Head on down to Poulton on 1st December for Poulton’s annual Christmas Festival with the lighting of the Crib and tree, market stalls, hot food, cold beer, live entertainment, children’s rides and Santa!
A visit to Barton Grange is always special, but during the run up to Christmas, it’s magical! From 4pm until 8pm Tuesday to Saturday, from 14th November until 16th December, the Garden Centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, festive food and family fun. During the Christmas Nights, from 4pm to 7pm, they’ll be serving their legendary hotpot supper in The Riverside Cafe, along with our homemade pies with peas and gravy. Plus, new for 2023, they are also offering a giant pig in a blanket! To get you truly into the Christmas spirit, dine in Willows Restaurant overlooking the light show in the plant area where special two and three course Christmas menus will be served alongside the main menu from 4pm until 7pm. Browse the displays, shop for gifts, and enjoy the sparkling light show every evening during the late-night openings from 4pm.
Find about more festive events at: bartongrange.co.uk
More details and events can be found at: discoverwyre.co.uk
