The market will feature The Dreamworks Lights show – a lantern extravaganza featuring characters from the blockbuster films of Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar. Tony McDonough reports.
Liverpool’s Christmas Market is to move to a new home at St George’s Plateau.
The new location has been chosen so the festive market, starting on Friday, November 18, can complement the UK premiere of the Dreamworks Lights show, beginning on November 26.
Previously the market has been held in Church Street and Lord Street but council bosses, who took back full control of the city’s markets just two weeks ago, believe the area in front of St George’s Hall is a more fitting location.
They believe it will provide a major boost to Liverpool’s retail and visitor economy which is worth an estimated £1.5bn over the festive period.
The Dreamworks Lights show is a lantern extravaganza featuring characters from the blockbuster films of Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar.
The new look market will run until Thursday, December 22, operating from 11am-9pm and 11am-5pm on Sundays
The day the market opens will coincide with the worldwide release of the new Harry Potter blockbuster, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, in which the hall and plateau both have a starring role.
Facing Lime Street station, the festive attraction will act as the shop window to the city’s Christmas offer and will feature more than 40 stalls selling food, arts and crafts from across four continents.
The market, which will be animated throughout its run with specially designed creative interventions, will also feature traditional Christmas fare including gingerbread, roasted chestnuts and hot mulled wine and will be promoted as a key feature in the city’s One Magical Christmas marketing campaign.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool’s Christmas Market deserves to be in a beautiful place and we’re delighted we can now move it to one of the best locations in the country.
“The stunning backdrop, which Harry Potter fans will soon get to see, is a huge boost for our Christmas plans and with families pouring in to St George’s Hall for Dreamworks Lights it’ll take the market to a totally new level.”