Christmas in Southport – Here’s what you can do this December

The excitement for Christmas is really building and Southport has everything you need to make this year an extra special one for the whole family.

To help you make the most of the season, here are our top picks for what you can do in Southport this December …

The Musical Christmas Tree, The Bear and The Reindeer and Christmas Lights

Nothing is guaranteed to add sparkle to your festive build-up quite like a twinkling light display and Southport’s is absolutely gorgeous. Just walking along Lord Street, under the mile-long Boulevard of Light, is such a lovely Christmassy experience, you’ll want to have your phone handy the whole time for the best pics.

The 60ft LED Christmas tree in Town Hall Gardens outside The Atkinson is a showstopper, dazzling with more than 20,000 colourful LED pixels, and this year it has the added bonus of musical light shows animated in sync with everyone’s favourite Christmas hits. The much-loved giant illuminated The Bear and The Reindeer characters are also back for this year, for another selfie opportunity by the Lord Street Bandstand and in Lord Street Gardens.

Find out more here.

Panto at The Atkinson 

Every family Christmas should include a trip to the panto, and this year The Atkinson has a tale as old as time: the classic Beauty and the Beast. If you’re looking for a fantastic show for the kids, this one has all the traditional elements of panto – a love story, lots of laughs, songs and dancing – and some brilliant sets and costumes. It runs from December 5 until New Year’s Eve, with plenty of matinee performances as well as evenings.

Find out more here.

Santa’s Secret Forest

This brand-new immersive Christmas attraction has been wowing families since it launched at the end of November, with everyone blown away by all the incredible features and little details that make it so special. Created in 40 acres of woodland in Orrell Woods, Hightown, it has a stunning light trail and Santa’s Christmas Hub where you’ll see cheeky elves working away to make all those gifts on kids’ wish lists. A first-of-its-kind interactive walkthrough experience takes you through 10 immersive rooms where you can spot real-life reindeer, board The Tinsel Town Express, help fix Santa’s sleigh, and ride the Magic Elevator to meet and greet with the big man himself. On until Christmas Eve.

Find out more here.

Have breakfast, brunch and lunch with Santa, Festive Parties and more Christmas Classics

He’s a busy chap at this time of year, but even Santa has to take a break to eat and there are plenty of opportunities to join him for breakfast, brunch or lunch in Southport.

Spend a festive morning at Silcock’s Funland and Pier Restaurant at Southport Pier this December and you can have breakfast and a festive hot choc, plus a small gift and ride on its famous carousel. If brunch is more your thing, head to Hickory’s Southport for Brunch with Santa on Saturday December 13 between 10 and 2, or there’s a Frozen lunch with Santa at The Vincent Hotel on Sunday December 14, with prizes for the best-dressed Frozen character and a gift for every child.

Southport’s the perfect place to embrace the party season too. The Grand has a packed line-up of festive parties including Kylie, Take That, Celine Dion and Boyzone/Westlife tributes, while The Vincent has Christmas party nights on Fridays and Saturdays through December with a three-course meal and DJ til 1am.

For Christmas movies to get you in the mood, Southport’s award-winning Bijou Cinema is showing classics including Muppet Christmas Carol on December 11, The Grinch on December 19, and Home Alone on December 21.

Find out more here.

Christmas shopping on Lord Street

With all its beautiful lights, Lord Street makes Christmas shopping feel like a treat. There are lots of independents to explore if you want to add some ticks to your list or find a few extras to make your home feel even more festive.  Don’t forget to call in to the beautiful Grade II listed Wayfarers Arcade which is bursting with gift ideas and amazing independent shops all under one very impressive roof!

Southport Market

There’s always so many events on at Southport Market, and that’s alongside all the tasty options on offer from the food traders. Get in the Christmas spirit with a Comedy Pub Crawl on December 10, taking in four comedians in four different venues, or get competitive with family or mates in the Play Haus games zone, open from December 17-January 4. If you fancy your chances at games like curling, beer pong, darts or air hockey you could be heading into 2026 as Market Champion! Not only that, but a special guest makes a stop at the Market too, hosting A Jolly Lunch with Santa on December 13, 14, 20 & 21.

Find out more here.

Find out what else is on in Southport this Christmas on our calendar.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.