Jack Frost will arrive in Liverpool this Thursday (20 November) to light up the city centre and launch the Snowflake Trail – the city’s only free family event this Christmas.

Transforming the city into a magical wintry wonderland, Jack Frost will scatter a dozen special snowflakes, from sculptures to window vinyls, to create a unique winter treasure hunt, which will run until 28 December.

Each of the snowflake locations will offer a clue for families to solve. Those who successfully unwrap the riddles will be in with a chance of winning a £1,500 winter sun holiday with Thomas Cook.

Runners up can win a bespoke silver snowflake diamond pendant, from Wongs Jewellers, family tickets to every pantomime in the city, a visit to the grotto at Rapid and a commemorative Liverpool Giants gift set.

To participate, people can pick up a free map from various city centre locations and Merseyrail train stations (including major retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Primark, Dorothy Perkins, Metquarter, St Johns Shopping Centre, Cavern Walks and various hotels, cafes, train stations, TIC’s and cultural venues). Revellers will be encouraged to take photos of their favourite decorated Christmas shop windows and share them on social media with the hashtag #SnowflakeTrail. Organisers Liverpool BID Company will award the best decorated shop a £1,000 prize.

Jack Frost will also be lighting up Liverpool’s Christmas tree on Church Street at 5.45pm on 20 November.

The Christmas tree illuminations will be followed by a spectacular festive animation, guaranteed to surprise unsuspecting shoppers.

The event is part of the Christmas by Liverpool campaign, which is being co-ordinated by Marketing Liverpool in collaboration with Liverpool BID Company, Liverpool ONE, The Albert Dock, Merseyrail and Geraud Markets Liverpool Ltd.

It will kick start a run of festive themed Thursdays which will see live reindeer, camels and Father Christmas parading through the city.

The Alive After Five programme will run each Thursday until 18 December, when Everton Football Club bring their Blue Christmas parade into the heart of the city.

The frosty fun has been designed to complement Liverpool ONE’s Ice Festival as part of the Christmas by Liverpool campaign.

Running until 4 January, the Liverpool ONE Ice Festival gives visitors the chance to show off their skating skills on the urban ice rink, enjoy festive rides or glide down the largest real ice slide in the UK. Shoppers looking for a break from Christmas shopping can relax in the Après Café Bar or sip ice cold shots in the enchanting Ice Bar.

And on 10 -11 December St Paul’s Square, in the Commercial District of the city centre, will host its first Fabulous Frost Fair, featuring the best selection of specialist gifts, festive food and drink and lots of amazing finishing touches including cards, ribbon and more gift wrap than you can shake a stick at.

Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents 1,500 businesses in the city centre, said:

“This Christmas in Liverpool is going to be very special – there’s some magical touches and elements that we’ve never attempted before. We’re delighted with the Snowflake Trail and the prizes are exceptional.

“We know that Christmas can be a very costly time of year for families and we’ve created the Snowflake Trail to allow them to enjoy the city centre at no expense. There’ll be other surprises along the way, but we’ll let people make those discoveries for themselves!”

Charlotte Corrie, director of Open Culture, The Snowflake Trail creative producers, said:

“The Snowflake Trail is a new and interactive event that will make Christmas in Liverpool unique and that bit more exciting. The specially commissioned sculptures and projections will enliven some of the city’s best shopping spaces and we hope everyone will have fun taking part.”

Councillor Gary Millar, Business Lead at Liverpool City Council, said:

“Liverpool is an iconic and thriving tourism destination and this year we’re expected to have our most successful festive Christmas to date. The entertainment put on by the “Christmas by Liverpool” partners, including The Liverpool BID Company, Liverpool ONE and The Albert Dock, is truly outstanding. Santa’s busy little helpers have given me a sneak peak at what’s in store on Thursday and it really is a dazzling and spectacular addition to the city’s Christmas line-up!”

Getting into town this year is really easy with Merseyrail, one of the organisations supporting the Christmas celebrations in the city centre. Services are very frequent, reliable and there are lots of money-saving ticket offers available.

For more information on the Snowflake Trail visit www.thisliverpool.com/christmas

For information on the wider Liverpool offering this Christmas and to keep up-to-date with Liverpool’s festive activity and find your way round the city’s retail hotspots visit www.christmasbyliverpool.com.