There is so much going at Christmas in Southport from visiting one of Southport’s best tearooms or coffee shops, taking in one of the spectacular Winter Light Trail Events or visiting Santa.

Horse and Carriage Ride

A horse and carriage ride will delight all of the family.  You’ll take in The Promenade, Pleasureland, Victoria Park and Lord Street boulevard in a fairytale carriage just for you.  Dates are available until 23 December and bookings can be made here, with a charity donation of £20 for each group (up to 6 people).

Illustrate Illuminate

Illustrate Illuminate will light up the dark winter days with eight new light decorations created from the artwork of young people from Southport, each depicting a different letter to create a word.  Both the trail maps are available here.

Make a note of the letter assigned below each light as you find them.  When you have them all, unjumble the letters, and spell out a festive word below. 

Post your entries to Santa’s letterbox in Marble Place, and you will be entered into the draw to win an iPad!

You can also check out our post on the 10 Best things to do in Southport with Kids

and our post on 7 Best things to do in Southport in the rain with Kids

The Vincent Hotel

Between adventures why not visit The Vincent Hotel to warm up with a hot chocolate and amazing s’mores boards! Always a favourite dessert but even more special on a cold and blustery day celebrating Christmas in Southport.

Gingerbread Family Trail (19th November – 2rd January 2023)

The Gingerbread Family Trail consists of ten Gingerbread figures, that will be hosted by businesses around Southport.  Pick up a map from The Atkinson, a list of other businesses, or the trail maps are available here.

When you have all ten, post your answers in Santa’s letterbox in Marble Place, and you will be entered into the draw to win an iPad!  You can also send your answers to info@southportbid.com

Where to see Santa in Southport at Christmas 2022

Where to see Santa or an Elf in Southport at Christmas this year:

Santa will be visiting Southport each Saturday until 17 December so your little ones can tell him their Christmas wishes.  He’ll also have a sack bursting full of Christmas gifts to share with little ones.  You can book a ticket to Santa’s Grotto in advance here, with a charity donation of £10 for each child.

You can also book an Elf Party where dancing, games and sparkly face decorations will get the party going. In preparation for Santa’s visit there will be the chance to make reindeer snacks for Rudolph and pals.  Elf Parties take place in Wayfarers Arcade on Sundays until 18 December, with each lasting about an hour and bookable here with a charity donation of £10 for each child. 

Theatre in Southport at Christmas

Sleeping Beauty

Little Theatre Southport is showing a production of Sleeping Beauty “packed to the brim with comedy and laughter”.  The show opens on Friday 16 December and runs through to the new year with tickets available here. 

Aladdin

Film star Patsy Kensit will be treading the magic carpet at The Atkinson with an action-packed production of Aladdin.  The boos and hisses start from Thursday 8 December with dates throughout December and tickets available here. 

Christmas Films in Southport at Christmas

Bijou

Bijou has showings of It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishop’s Wife and White Christmas, modern classics like Home Alone, Elf, The Holiday and How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and much more all bookable here.

Moonlight Drive In

For a larger cinematic experience, taking over Victoria Park from 9 to 18 December is the Moonlight Drive In.  Here you can indulge in the big screen action from the comfort of your car.  There is family fun in the form of titles like Frozen, Nativity and Polar Express and fun for the big kids with screenings of Love Actually, Die Hard and Die Hard 2. Booking details are here.