This Christmas, Liverpool’s top retail and tourism attractions have joined forces to launch a citywide Christmas campaign, ‘One Magical City’.
Co-ordinated by Marketing Liverpool, alongside key partners ACC Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool BID Company, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool ONE and Merseyrail, ‘One Magical City’ is part of a five year vision to develop Liverpool’s Christmas offer and boost its reputation as a must-visit festive destination at a national and international level.
Liverpool prides itself in being a leader in terms of its strong retail offer and many of the top brands found in the city have selected Liverpool as their first choice.
The One Magical City campaign will see an eight week programme of enchanting family festivities happen across the city from 13 November.
‘One Magical City’ will be officially launched on Friday 13th November. Key businesses and stakeholders will assemble under the iconic Christmas tree at Liverpool ONE to watch the lights switch on to officially mark the start of the city’s celebrations.
Chris Brown, Director at Marketing Liverpool, said:
“This Christmas is just the start of what is an exciting long-term vision for Liverpool. Working collaboratively with our partners on ‘One Magical City’ will enable us to significantly grow our offer at this competitive time of year. We have a fantastic retail offer, an acclaimed dining scene and world-renowned tourist attractions, so pooling these amazing resources will create something really spectacular that the city can be proud of.
“Liverpool’s enchanting evening on the 13th is the perfect platform to launch what will be a magical Christmas for the city.”
Donna Howitt, Marketing Director at Liverpool ONE, added:
“Christmas in Liverpool promises to be a really magical experience for everyone who visits.
“We are delighted to be working with partners across the city to ensure all of our visitors have the best possible time in our famous city.
“We really do have something for everyone, whether it is the extended opening hours in all of our stores from November 27th or the return of the family-friendly Ice Festival at Chavasse Park.
“We pride ourselves in ensuring all of our visitors have the best possible experience and there is always something new to see and do.
“We are expecting our iconic Christmas tree to be a real favourite with our visitors this year.”
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, said:
“It’s been great to see how all the partners in Liverpool have worked together to create the One Magical City programme. The result is a truly exciting calendar of Christmas events and a brilliant platform on which to make it even bigger and better for next year.
“The Snowflake Trail has been devised to give visitors a unique experience, taking them on a magical journey to discover wonderful works of art in beautiful locations.
“The event can be enjoyed on so many levels, be it at home reading the trail’s First Snowflake story to your children or discovering the clues with fabulous prizes to be won. We’ve even got some digital surprises for people to play with on their smart phones. Above all, it’s free and you don’t have to do it all in one day. You can keeping coming back to Liverpool city centre and have a most magical Christmas experience – again and again and again.’’
Events included as part of One Magical City include:
Liverpool ONE launch night on 13th November will bring the city streets to life with live music and entertainment, as the gigantic Christmas tree is unveiled amidst the city’s twinkling Christmas lights.
It will mark the start of the return of the Ice Festival at Chavasse Park. Running until 4th January, this year’s festival will be packed full of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Visitors will get the chance to take a lap round the ice rink, enjoy festive rides, glide down the UK’s largest real Ice slide, or even just take a break from Christmas shopping to relax in the Après Café Bar or sip ice cold shots in the enchanting Ice Bar.
Liverpool’s fairy tale festivities will continue from 19th November, when mischievous Jack Frost arrives to transform the city centre into a winter wonderland – with the magical Snowflake Trail.
Running until 3rd January, people can follow an amazing trail of artist sculptures, across 12 key locations, and magical window displays in some of Liverpool’s best shopping spaces.
The Snowflake Trail, which is the city’s biggest free festive event, also features a series of specially devised light and sound installations.
Families can get involved by picking up a trail map and solve the clues along the way, with a chance of winning wonderful prizes.
From 28th November, Albert Dock Liverpool will be treating visitors to a traditional festive spectacle complete with a magical parade courtesy of Liverpool Lantern Company, real reindeer, larger-than-life Christmas characters, roast chestnuts, yuletide choirs, and many, many more surprises to unwrap!
It will also boast outdoor live music, street theatre and dance performances with a seasonal theme. During the Christmas countdown, Albert Dock will be illuminated each evening with festive, twinkling lights, providing a magical backdrop to the Christmas cheer emanating from the Dock’s popular restaurants and bars.
On December 19th, at 4pm, come and meet the illuminated Snow Queen as the world-famous Liverpool Lantern Company presents a musical, yuletide procession around Albert Dock. The 200ft tall ship, Stavros S Niarchos, has also returned to the Dock for her annual winter rest, inviting visitors to step aboard this stunning vessel and explore her magnificent decks on select weekends throughout the season.
If you’re looking for some alternative present ideas, head to one of Liverpool’s Christmas markets for unusual gifts, artisan bargains and festive food and drink.
The continental markets on Lord Street and Paradise Street will open from 20th November until 19th December.
This year’s Winter Arts Market is on for one weekend only at St George’s Hall on 5 and 6 December is the perfect place to pick up unique, handmade Christmas gifts. Shoppers can also enjoy craft workshops, performances, live music and delicious food and drink from Cuthbert’s Café.
Or if you fancy a laugh or a sing-song, the Echo Arena has a selection of comedy and Christmas shows to please everyone, from How Now Mrs Brown Cow and Michael McIntyre’s new stand-up to Radio City Christmas Live, featuring Olly Murs, and A Song for Christmas which will feature some internationally acclaimed singers.
The Exhibition Centre Liverpool is also hosting the newest and most exciting Christmas Fair in the North West from 26 – 29 November. The Ultimate Christmas Fair offers the chance to find an unprecedented range of distinctive products and beautifully made, quality Christmas gifts all under one roof.
Getting into Liverpool City Centre this year is really easy with Merseyrail, one of the organisations supporting the Christmas celebrations in the city centre. Services are frequent, reliable, and there are lots of money-saving ticket offers available.
This Christmas, Merseyrail is also running late night trains and for the first time has a Boxing Day service. Visit www.merseyrail.org/Christmas for more information.
Visit www.onemagicalcity.com to keep up-to-date with Liverpool’s magical Christmas celebrations, find your way round the city’s retail hotspots and find out about the latest January sales and promotions.