Claire Sweeney helps launch Knowsley Safari’s Enchanted in style

Knowsley Safari’s beloved festive extravaganza, Enchanted, officially opened to the public on Saturday 30 November with a little help from actress and singer, Claire Sweeney.

Running until Monday 23^rd December, Enchanted at Knowsley Safari has all the traditional family favourites and even more this year, with the addition of a Santa Panto, a mini theatre show combining the magic of Father Christmas with all the fun of a pantomime.

A very excited and talented Annie Stocks, 10 from Haydock, St Helens – the winner of Knowsley Safari’s first ever Search for a Star talent competition – was another star guest at Enchanted when, for one night only, she took to the stage to perform a solo of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Then, for the finale, Annie went on to join Claire Sweeney and the rest of the cast to sing Merry Christmas Everyone, leaving pantomime guests in full restive spirit as they left.

Running several times each evening during every Enchanted event, Santa Panto is an additional ticketed event, with each attending child receiving a small cuddly toy, and it’s just one of the new exciting features at this year’s Enchanted event. The whole family can have fun capturing memories on the spectacular light trail with new illuminated animals, including giraffes and a male lion with his cub, as well as the moving Rainbow Road, icy-blue Arctic Arcadia and of course, the Talking Tree!

Visitors can spot illuminated hippos submerged in the Safari’s natural water features, explore an Enchanted Woodland and the ultra-Christmassy Winter Village with the much-anticipated marshmallow toasting and plenty of festive food and drink. Illuminated amusements and rides will also keep the young ones entertained. 

Claire said:

“I loved visiting Knowsley Safari as a child. An everlasting memory will be us crying with laughter as the baboons pressed their bums on our car windows and tried to steal our windscreen wipers, so it’s extra special to be back here with my own son to help kickstart the Enchanted festivities.

“I absolutely love Christmas and always start early. Our tree has been up for weeks and visiting an experience as magical as Enchanted, with its beautiful lights and toasted marshmallows, has just made us even more excited for Christmas.”

Enchanted tickets are available now, from £10, with special discounts for members. Under 1s and carers are free of charge. Santa Panto tickets are available to Enchanted ticket holders at a cost of £10 per child and £5 per adult. Access to Enchanted is from 4pm until 8pm. Santa’s Grotto tickets (weekend daytime only) are £20 per child, in addition to a regular Safari admission ticket.

Guests are advised to book early due to demand via the Knowsley Safari website.

Find more events across Liverpool this Christmas here.