The Liverpool Santa Dash is back for 2021 with a new headline partner

Organisers of the world-famous Liverpool Santa Dash have announced a local based gifting company as the event’s headline partner for the 2021 return of the popular annual event.

BTR Liverpool has revealed that Appreciate Group is backing the festive spectacular, which is highly regarded as the city’s kick-start to Christmas and is thought to be the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday 5 December 2021 and will be known as the Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions and lockdown measures, the 2020 event was unable to go ahead.

However, BTR Liverpool introduced a virtual format enabling Santas to run 5K locally in their red or blue suit, allowing them to follow Government guidelines and maintain social distancing.

Credit: Paul Francis Cooper

The virtual Santa Dash was embraced with enthusiasm, with almost 2,000 Santas taking part across Liverpool and the UK, as well as internationally in Australia, Denmark, Dubai, Germany, Sweden, and the USA.

Plans are now underway to bring the Liverpool Santa Dash to life once again as a public event as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be lifted.

Created by BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell, the Liverpool Santa Dash was first staged in 2004. A separate 1K Mini Dash for under 12s was added in 2007, and blue Santa suits were introduced three years later.

This year, the team behind the event are pulling out all the stops in a bid to enable participants get their Santa Dash fix in real-life. Any Covid-19 guidelines required at the time of the event will be followed.

Liverpool-based Appreciate Group is home to many of the nation’s most loved gifting and reward products including Love2shop, highstreetvouchers.com, and Park Christmas Savings. Based in the region for more than 50 years, Appreciate Group are committed to supporting their community.

Credit Paul Francis Cooper, BTR Liverpool

Andy Hammerton, Head of Corporate Affairs at Appreciate Group, commented:

“This year’s Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash is eagerly anticipated as the excitement of live events comes back into our lives. We are delighted and proud to be supporting this great event in our home city and working with BTR Liverpool. As a company that has been based in the region for more than half a century, we’re passionate about helping to create joy within our community.

“The Liverpool Santa Dash is an event that is truly open to everyone – whether you’re a seasoned runner, participating for fun, or championing a cause close to your heart. Running and walking has become so important for many people throughout the pandemic, so taking part in the Santa Dash will be such a special experience.

“Together with BTR Liverpool, we are keen to see the enthusiasm this year’s event will create – so join us for the Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash on Sunday 5 December.

Credit: Paul Francis Cooper

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region. Its extensive portfolio also includes the BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon; BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K; BTR Port Sunlight 5K and 10K; and 52-mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside.

Santas can look forward to dashing round Liverpool city centre with landmarks en-route including Pier Head Liverpool, Museum Of Liverpool, and the Grade I Listed Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, before a grandstand finish outside Liverpool Town Hall.

The Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash is an accessible event and is open to everyone, from those running purely for fun and others fundraising. Each year Santas include wheelchair participants, walkers, joggers, runners, families, friends, colleagues – even tiny Santas in prams and four-legged furry Santas.

The event acts as a platform for community groups, businesses, and charities to fundraise independently while taking part. This year’s official event charity will be announced in the coming weeks.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell commented:

“We are thrilled to have the nation’s leading gifting company on-board to partner this year’s event. It is a very fitting collaboration, and we welcome Appreciate Group to the Liverpool Santa Dash family.

“It has been a very challenging 16 months for everyone, including live events and small business, so we’re incredibly excited that we can now plan ahead and make the 2021 return of the Liverpool Santa Dash a memorable experience for everyone.

“A sea of red and blue Santas gathering at Pier Head Liverpool against the backdrop of the city’s iconic waterfront and Three Graces really is a sight to behold. We’re already counting down the days until we can once again experience the festive spectacular of the Liverpool Santa Dash.”

Online entries for the Appreciate Group Liverpool Santa Dash 2021 are open now. The registration fee covers all costs to organise and deliver the event including road closures, safety measures, Santa suits, medals, and entertainment.

For full details visit https://www.btrliverpool.com/santa-dash