This fun seaside town is open all year round. It’s Christmas in Blackpool – back for 2023 with the biggest programme of festive entertainment! Christmas by the Sea is underway – thanks to the resort’s tourism businesses.
It all began on Friday 17 November at around 5.30pm on the Tower Festival Headland at an opening event hosted by Hayley Kay. Featuring a festive performance from the students from Scream Theatre Schools. Followed by a skating performance with children from the Blackpool Ice Drome Charities Association (BIDCA). Then young skater Amelia Kislitsyn performing a special routine before the rink opens to the public!
Christmas in Blackpool is Extended!
Organisers I Love Blackpool have announced that the hugely successful Christmas By The Sea festive village is to remain open for another week – by popular demand!
The seafront village was originally scheduled to close on January 1. However, with many schools not re-opening until Monday 8 January, the village will now stay open from noon to 9pm every day until Sunday 7 January, with free skating until 8.
The six-mile Illuminations display will also remain lit every night. Happy new year!
NEW for 2023 – Snow Slide! Open daily 12-9pm except Christmas Day
Christmas Chalets – Daily 12pm-9pm
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Festive Fairground Rides and the STARFLYER – Daily 12pm-9pm
FREE skating rink – Daily during school holidays from 12-9pm – except Christmas Day
Simulated snowfalls – on the hour between 6pm-10pm
Tower projection shows – Daily 6pm-10pm
Heritage Tram Tours – Mini Festive Tours on a special Christmas-themed Heritage Tram
- Christmas in Blackpool is Extended!
- New Years Eve Party in Blackpool
- Christmas in Blackpool
- Snow Slide – NEW for 2023!
- Visit the Festival Village – 17 Nov to 1 Jan 2024
- Outdoor Skating Rink – 17 Nov to 1 Jan 2024
- Snow is Falling – Until 1 Jan
- Enjoy the Blackpool Illuminations – until 1 January 2024
- Car Parking Offers
- Illuminated Tram Tours – Until 1 Jan
- Europe's LARGEST Travelling Aerial Ride – the StarFlyer is back!
- Town Centre Christmas Lights
- Thursday Late Night Shopping
- Book your Break
- Meet Santa in Blackpool!
- Shows, Panto, Music & Theatre
- Other Christmas Events in the Blackpool Area
- While you’re here…
New Years Eve Party in Blackpool
PARTY ON THE PROM TO SAY A FOND FAREWELL T0 2023 with a free family celebration on New Year’s Eve!
Enjoy this FREE family party within the Christmas By The Sea village on the Tower Festival Headland between 3pm and 6pm on Sunday 31 December. Includes music and entertainment for children and parents, culminating in a synchronised fireworks and projection show set to music.
The celebration marks the end of a year that has seen record crowds turning out to Blackpool’s programme of free events. On New Year’s Eve, the village will be open from noon until 9pm. The Illuminations will shine until 1am.
And New Year’s Eve will see a free family celebration to celebrate the dawn of the New Year, between 3pm and 6pm. Family entertainment includes a performance by the LeylandHosen Bierkeller Band, one of the UK’s best Bavarian-style groups.
Dressed in full lederhosen dress, the eight-piece brass and drums group will be performing at various intervals during the afternoon.
The free show is part of an outdoor party that will also include a DJ, costume characters, face-painting, circus performers, children’s rides, as well as the skating rink and themed food and drink cabins. The three-hour celebration, staged by the Blackpool Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and VisitBlackpool, culminates in a synchronised fireworks and projection show set to music.
Timetable for New Years Eve
- 12noon: Opening of the Christmas By The Sea village and ice rink with a DJ playing music and giving away competition prizes.
- 3pm-5pm: Performances by the LeylandHosen Bierkeller Band with audience interaction and a selection of team games.
- 3pm-6pm: Face painters and circus skills
- 5.30pm (approximate): Countdown on The Blackpool Tower followed by a fireworks display and light projection show (Note: The fireworks display is subject to weather).
The skating rink and the rest of the Christmas village will remain open until 9pm and the six-mile Illuminations display will shine from 4.30pm until 1am. The countdown and New Year projection show will be repeated on The Blackpool Tower at midnight.
Last year, Christmas By The Sea delivered the highest visitor numbers ever recorded on the seafront during the winter months and since its opening night, this year’s event has already drawn in tens of thousands of people from across the region.
Christmas in Blackpool
Enjoy a Christmas Extravaganza in Blackpool in 2023! Along with the extended Illuminations season, there’s a whole host of magical shows, events and things for all the family to do.
The staging of the village is in association with the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Triangle Attractions.
Find it on the Tower Festival Headland opposite The Blackpool Tower. Once again the Christmas village will include a free-to-use skating rink, festive light installations and projection shows, themed log cabins, artificial snowfalls and Christmas tram rides. There’ll also be themed children’s attractions. The Star Flyer is back – at 260ft tall, it’s one of Europe’s tallest swing rides. PLUS – NEW for 2023 is a 100ft-long snow slide! Hold on tight as you fly down the slide towards the bottom, feeling that amazing sea breeze!
We enjoyed a look around as the festivities got into full swing – come with us for a look at Christmas by the Sea –
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Snow Slide – NEW for 2023!
Each day (except Christmas Day) between 17 November and 1 January, you can have-a-go on the Snow Slide! It’s a 100ft-long thrill, seated on a rubber ring – make sure you hold on tight and enjoy the exhilarating rush to the bottom! Photo: VisitBlackpool
Visit the Festival Village – 17 Nov to 1 Jan 2024
At Tower Festival Headland you can enjoy a fabulous festival village with illuminated wooden cabins. They’ll be serving a range of food, drink, gifts and souvenirs. Many thanks to LB Photography for these great shots!
It’s a showcase of simulated snowfalls, cosy log cabins, and a magical forest. Plus festive-themed light projection shows and special Santa tram rides.
Outdoor Skating Rink – 17 Nov to 1 Jan 2024
Until 1 January you can show off your skill on the outdoor synthetic winter skating rink, also at Festival Headland. Even better, it’s free to use for both residents and visitors. Skate hire included and no need to book!
Snow is Falling – Until 1 Jan
We don’t get much of the white stuff at the coast. But regular snowfalls will be bursting out of special cannons near the projection unit on Tower Festival Headland this year! Take your place on the Comedy Carpet during the evening, for a snow-filled surprise on the hour.
Enjoy the Blackpool Illuminations – until 1 January 2024
The opening of the Christmas By The Sea village also sees the start of the festive 3D light projection shows on the front of the Blackpool Tower building.
Enchanting children’s story of fairies, fireflies, precious jewels and ice palaces are projected nightly on to the front of The Blackpool Tower building. Watch the Tower magically come alive as the projection colourfully bursts into life and the frost fairies take over this historic building. See them nightly along with several other projection shows until January 1.
With the Illuminations shining nightly, is there a more magical time to visit Blackpool? The Lights will shine every night of the 2023 season, remaining lit throughout the festive season. In previous years they were always switched off at the end of October half term. But not this year!
Car Parking Offers
Illuminated Tram Tours – Until 1 Jan
Heritage Tram illuminations tours are also back. Pre-book your ride on one of the heritage illuminated trams and see the Lights in style! Available at weekends and selected week nights throughout the season. Plus a special Mini-Festive Tram Tour.
Europe’s LARGEST Travelling Aerial Ride – the StarFlyer is back!
The Star Flyer is back at Tower Festival Headland this year!
The huge ride is a whopping 260 feet high! At 60m that’s nearly half the height of the Blackpool Tower. The ‘Around The World’ ride gives spectacular views of the resort – for anyone brave enough to ride it! Dare you??
Town Centre Christmas Lights
Have you seen the NEW festive lights throughout Blackpool town centre? Oh they are pretty! The twinkly icicle lights festoon the main shopping streets. Effective in the gloomy daylight of winter, they look even lovelier as dusk approaches.
See them displayed across Bank Hey Street, Victoria Street, Church Street, Clifton Street and Abingdon Street.
Here’s the Christmas Tree, lit up in front of St John’s church and a short clip of it twinkling. There’s a second tree installed opposite the new tramway terminus development, at Bickerstaffe Square.
Thursday Late Night Shopping
There’s usually late nights on Thursdays at Houndshill Shopping Centre – open each week until 8pm
Please support Blackpool town centre this Christmas. It’s a Christmassy place to shop, and full of festive cheer. And please support local retailers as much as you possibly can in this crucial trading period. There’s every reason for local people to stay local and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Watch this video of Blackpool at Christmas 2022 – complete with the new lights!
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Book your Break
You can see that there’s LOADS to see and do in Blackpool this Christmas. There’s far too much to do in just one day, so why not book a short break?
There’s something for everyone in the Visit Fylde Coast and StayBlackpool accommodation guide. Take a look and book direct. That way you can be assured of a safe, clean and legal place to stay, at the very best price.
Looking for Somewhere to Stay?
Book your stay with the Visit Fylde Coast and StayBlackpool accommodation guide. Know that you’ll have a great place to stay with a choice of Trusted accommodation.
All the properties listed on the Visit Fylde Coast websites by StayBlackpool are annually inspected. This means that you can book with confidence, safe in the knowledge of a great stay, somewhere that’s safe, clean and legal, at the very best price.
Bookings from these sites are also ultra-low or zero commission. This means that more of the money from your booking helps to support the local economy.
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Meet Santa in Blackpool!
Come down to Blackpool and meet Santa in his Grotto this year! And there’s plenty of other festive fun to be had all day. Watch this space to find out where he’ll be appearing.
Visit the magical Houndshill Grotto this year!
Santa’s busy Elves are getting themselves ready to greet you this winter! Watch this space for details of the 2023 grotto experience this year.
Meet Santa at Coral Island
The Big Man will be finding out whether you’ve been naughty or nice, right up to the big day itself!
Join the Santa Dash
Fancy being Father Christmas for the day? What a way to get into the festive spirit! Dress up as the man in red and run, jog or walk along Blackpool promenade – with hundreds of others!
Shows, Panto, Music & Theatre
Kings and Queens Show
2, 9, 16 and 31 December
Central Pier Showbar is home to the amazing Kings and Queens of Rock, Pop and Roll. It’s the resorts favourite tribute show with all your favourite big names. The showbar opens seasonally for Kings and Queens, through to the end of the Illuminations. Plus the Christmas shows in December. This award winning show has been performing in Blackpool for 6 glittering years!
Grand Christmas Concert
Poulton-le-Fylde Band returns to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre with the heart-warming Grand Christmas Concert – a fabulous festive treat for all the family. The brass band will celebrate the festive season in rousing style with this yearly show. It’s packed with all your favourite sing-along carols and festive melodies, a family-friendly perfect start to your Christmas.
Aladdin at The Grand Theatre
Hot on the heels of a record breaking Sleeping Beauty is Aladdin – this years magical family pantomime. Once again starring Grand panto favourite Steve Royle as Wishee Washee. The Grand is also delighted to welcome back Tom Lister! For those of you that have seen Tom & Steve working in panto together, you’ll know it’s going to be a madcap panto this year with lots of fun, laughs and improvisation!
Other Christmas Events in the Blackpool Area
Blackpool is bang in the middle of the Fylde Coast and there are loads more things to do here this festive season!
With Christmas festivities, switch on events, Santa’s grottos and fun for all the family. From Fleetwood and Cleveleys to Lytham and St Annes.
Don’t forget… The Visit Fylde Coast events calendar is the best place to find out what’s on!
While you’re here…
Go to the homepage of the Live Blackpool website for the latest updates.
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What is there to do in Blackpool on Christmas Day with children do the hotels have Christmas stuff and is anything open
i was looking at the blacpool for christmas advert. it would be a good idea if the prices were shown. can you book separetlet for thinks or it is it a block booking for all activities.
You’d book individually for all ticketed events with the venue. A lot of them are free this year too!