This fun seaside town is open all year round. It’s Christmas in Blackpool – back for 2024 with the biggest programme of festive entertainment! Christmas by the Sea brings an extension to the Illuminations and a whole lot of festive fun!
Christmas in Blackpool 2024
Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is returning for 2024 – and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever!
Friday 15 November to Sunday 5 January
VisitBlackpool has confirmed that the hugely-popular outdoor village will open with an exciting range of festive family attractions – plus extended opening hours for the free skating rink (open every day until 5 January 2025 – barring Christmas Day). Last year, Christmas By The Sea, delivered record visitor numbers on the seafront during the winter months.
This year’s village will include festive light installations and projection shows, themed log cabins with food, drink and gifts, artificial snowfalls, Christmas trees and festive tram rides. Christmas By The Sea will again be complemented by a full Illuminations display along the seafront.
Christmas By The Sea attracts visitors from far and wide to enjoy a unique Christmas experience. Many of the attractions including the rink, projection shows, snowfalls and light installations are again free to access. It’s great for families to enjoy a truly magical and memorable Christmas.
New to Christmas by the Sea 2024
There’s also a variety of themed children’s attractions, exciting thrill rides including a 100ft-long snow slide, and the return of the Star Flyer. At 196ft tall, it’s one of Europe’s tallest swing rides. Look for other new additions to the site, including a German Swing Grill, Snow Dome Waltzers, a Helter Skelter slide and Ice Breaker thrill ride.
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Jane Cole is Managing Director of Blackpool Transport. Along with sponsoring the rink they’ll be providing a festive tram. Jane said “We are delighted to support an event that brings a heavy sprinkling of winter magic to Blackpool. This year we’ll be unveiling a very special Christmas themed tram too!”
Cut Price Parking
- Throughout the Christmas By The Sea season, you can park for four hours at many Blackpool Council car parks for just £2.
- Snow Slide! Open daily 12-9pm except Christmas Day
- Christmas Chalets – Daily 12pm-9pm
- 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
New Years Eve Party at Christmas by the Sea!
You’re invited to enjoy a FREE family celebration on New Year’s Eve at Christmas by the Sea! Between 3-6pm on Tuesday 31 December.
The outdoor celebrations take place in and around the Comedy Carpet. Including a Bavarian-style oompah band and other entertainment for children and parents. Culminating in a synchronised fireworks and projection show set to music!
The Tourist Information Centre at Festival House is adding a magical touch to the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Light diffraction paper glasses will be available to purchase for £1 each, transforming the fireworks into stunning snowflakes. The glasses will go on sale on Monday 23 December, while stocks last.
- On New Year’s Eve, the village will be open from noon until 9pm.
- At midnight, the projection show that will feature in the family party will be shown on The Blackpool Tower to mark the start of 2025.
- The Illuminations will shine until 1am on New Year’s Eve.
Christmas by the Sea Opening Event
The grand opening of Christmas by the Sea takes place on Friday 15 November from 5pm.
The opening event, featuring a cast of skaters and talented young stage school performers, will kick-start a spectacular festive season, which includes a free skating rink at the heart of an exciting collection of themed family attractions, food and drink huts, snowfalls, projection shows and light installations, and festive tram rides.
Children from the Blackpool Ice Drome Charities Association (BIDCA) will perform a routine taken from their forthcoming Christmas Ice Show, Snow White: A Fairytale Adventure On Ice. It will be performed in full at Pleasure Beach Resort later in December. The skaters will be joined for a second year running by the super-talented youngsters from Scream Theatres School. They will take to the stage with a lively mix of musical theatre and festive medleys, bringing a taste of holiday magic to the opening event.
The opening event also takes place on the eve of Strictly Come Dancing making its annual trip to Blackpool. With the Tower Ballroom directly opposite the Christmas By The Sea village, there is every chance of a guest appearance or two as the dancers prepare for their Saturday show!
Christmas in Blackpool
Enjoy a Christmas Extravaganza in Blackpool in 2024! 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 Blackpool Council, Blackpool Transport 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.
We enjoyed a look around as the festivities got into full swing – come with us for a look at last years Christmas by the Sea –
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NEW in 2023 and back in 2024 – the Snow Slide!
Each day (except Christmas Day) between 15 November and 5 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 – 15 Nov to 5 Jan 2025
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 – 15 Nov to 5 Jan 2025
Until 5 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 5 Jan
We don’t get much of the white stuff at the coast (have a look at some rare snowy times here). 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 5 January 2025
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 5.
With the Illuminations shining nightly, is there a more magical time to visit Blackpool? The Lights will shine every night of the 2024 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 5 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 2024 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
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.
Panto at The Grand Theatre
This years magical family pantomime at The Grand Theatre is Cinderella. Once again starring Grand panto favourite Steve Royle.
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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Booking a stay? Pick a safe, clean and legal place to stay, at the very best price. Book with the Visit Fylde Coast and StayBlackpool guide.
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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!