Your guide to Christmas in Formby 2024

December is just around the corner, so it’s time to start planning your festive timetable.

Liverpool and its surrounding towns and villages have got everything you need to make this Christmas special.

Today we turn the spotlight on Christmas in Formby.

This village on the Sefton coast has cosy cafes, winters walks, festive light displays and much more to get you in the spirit.

Here is our guide to Christmas in Formby.

The big switch on

The Christmas lights in the village will be switched on this Thursday, 21 November.

The main road through the village will be closed and local businesses will be joining in the fun.

Lux 37 will have an outside bar open from 4pm serving festive tipples, cakes and there will be Christmas characters to entertain the kids.

Elsewhere there will be fairground rides, a visit from Santa, and musical performances from local schools and choirs.

The big switch on is at 7pm.

Christmas Candle Painting

Enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie while you learn how to paint four Christmas candles to take home.

You can also order a special festive cheese board to nibble while you paint.

Tickets cost £32, which includes the candles. Cheese board is £10 per person.

Saturday 23 November, 6.30pm-10.30pm, Queens Road Social, Queen Road, Formby.

See their Instagram page for more.

See the man himself on the Santa wagon tour

The Rotary Club will be bringing cheer to Formby with the annual tour that starts on Sunday 1 December.

As well as visiting as many roads as possible during the tour, you can also see the sleigh in Waitrose carpark on 7 December from 10am-2pm, Tesco carpark on 14 December from 10am-2pm and in the village on 21 December from 10am-1pm.

Find the Santa Wagon route here.

A four legged festive walk

Grab the pooch and head to Woodwards Wine Bar to meet up with other dogs and their owners for a special charity walk.

The walk will take in Duke Street Park before heading back to Woodwards for coffee and dog treats.

All funds raised on the day will be for the Goa Dog Foundation which focuses on animal welfare, animal birth control and education on the Indian island and adoption in the UK.

Meet at 10am, Sunday 1 December, Woodwards, Chapel Lane.

Enjoy a festive singalong

Get in the Christmas spirit with some of the best songs and carols at Holy Trinity Church on 7 December.

Starting at 10am, admission is free, and all are welcome. There will be a mix of festive readings, singalongs and solo performances.

You can also enjoy bacon butties, hot drinks and mince pies all while raising money for Queenscourt and Woodlands hospices.

Saturday 7 December, 10am, Holy Trinity Church.

Breakfast with Santa

The kids can meet Father Christmas, enjoy breakfast, festive activities and receive a gift at The Grapes.

There will also be unlimited tea and coffee for the adults.

Entry is £12 for children, £3 for accompanying adults.

Starts at 10am on Sunday 15 and 22 December.

See their Facebook page for more.

Get in the festive spirit at Emily’s

The festive displays at Emily’s have become legendary since the bar and restaurant opened two years ago. This year is no different.

The venue has been turned into a winter wonderland with its gorgeous candy cane theme for Christmas 2024.

There is also a special addition to the menu for the season, the Christmas Club, three layers of multigrain toast, the middle of which is gravy soaked, with roasted turkey stuffing, sage aioli and cranberry sauce skewered with pigs in blankets and served with mini rosemary roast potatoes and a pot of turkey gravy.

See the website for more details.

Warm up in a cosy cafe

Formby has an array of independent cafes where you can warm up with a hot chocolate or special coffee.

Blossoms is the new cafe in the village, with all the winter warming drinks you will need.

Or why not try the newly re-opened No.6 in Freshfield? It’s right across the road from the station and is the perfect place to drop by after a walk at the beach.

They have great coffee and a new brunch menu that will warm you up on a winter’s day.