WARRINGTON’S Weekend Wonderland is set to be a Christmas cracker for all the family with a carnival of festive fun in the town centre, including an artisan market and a chance to see Father Christmas and his sleigh for free!
Taking place over the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of November, this Christmas cracker is being brought to you by Warrington Business Improvement District. And what better way to start the festive season than with a whole weekend of Christmas activity and events taking place across Warrington Town Centre.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER – 10AM TO 9PM
CHRISTMAS ARTISAN MARKETS – | 10AM – 7PM
Warrington BID has joined forces with Independent Street Markets to showcase local artists and makers who will be providing a unique selection of foods and crafts over the weekend, whilst also creating a fantastic Christmas day out for all. With over 70 Christmas market stalls along Bridge Street, Marketgate, Horsemarket Street, Buttermarket Street and Bank Street.
So, expect amazing local food – freshly baked produce from micro bakeries, tasty street food, epic cakes, award winning Warrington based pies, fresh roasted coffee, Indian treats and delicacies, artisan gin, olives, and deli. There will also be beautiful, handcrafted jewellery, unique arts, craft, hand poured candles, cheese truckles, mulled wine, local photography, dog treats and much more.
FUNFAIR & SWING GRILL | 10AM – 9PM
Chadwick Funfair will land in Warrington once more, with a collection of fairground rides, including a carousel, train ride, Disney character toy ride and plenty of tasty Bratwurst!
COMMUNITY & SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CHOIR PERFORMANCES- FREE | 10AM – 5PM
Join us over in Old Market Place at Golden Square, where there will be a host of community and school choirs performing on the stage, spreading their festive joy.
Please see the below list of performers for our Carols around the Tree:
10am – Cinnamon Brow school
11am – Barrow Hall school
1pm – Wired for Sound choir
2pm – St Phillips C of E school
3pm – Penketh Primary school
4pm – Warrington Youth Zone choir
5pm – St Thomas school
MUSIC | 10AM – 5PM
Join Radio Warrington at Marketgate, where they’ll be broadcasting live, entertaining us with Christmas songs throughout the day, building up to the lantern parade at 5:15pm
THE RETURN OF AT NO.25 CHRISTMAS INSTALLATION– FREE | 10AM – 4PM
Back by popular demand, we see the return of Culture Warrington’s At No.25 Christmas Installation from last year but with a slightly different twist for 2022. Artists Erica Wilkinson and Lauren Muir have created a festive Nordic inspired space that will feel safe, comforting and fulfilling – a magical space that will encourage a moment of peace, calm and creativity in the busy Christmas shopping period, that facilitates the meeting of both friends and strangers. We will also add some magic by exploring some festive Nordic folklore characters and workshops throughout December.
*Situated in Golden Square, next to Costa
LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOPS- FREE |10:30AM – 3PM
Culture Warrington and Community objectives will be continuing their popular lantern-making workshops at Chester University Campus (Time Square). This is a great opportunity for all the family to create a lantern together that can be used for the Town Centre Parade at 5:15pm (Available on a first come first served basis
WARRINGTON CONTEMPORARY ART FESTIVAL FRINGE – FREE |11AM- 6PM
Come along to New Art Spaces (Former M&S) as Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival launch their first ever Fringe Festival in collaboration with Warrington and Vale Royal College! Inspired by the theme of ‘Connections’ students will transform the ground floor of the former M&S site into a unique exhibition with additional windows installation and live performance throughout the day.
wcaf.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/warrington-contemporary-arts-fringe-festival/
FATHER CHRISTMAS AND HIS SLEIGH – FREE | 1:30PM – 6PM
Father Christmas will park his sleigh in town with his Reindeers (props), so you can take a seat and snap a precious memory. Father Christmas will be exploring the town centre and what we have on offer, chatting to all our children and finding out if they are on the naughty or nice list He will also be joining you all on the lantern parade from Marketgate to the Town Hall.
STREET ENTERTAINERS – FREE | 3PM – 6PM
Special guests will be joining us on the streets of Warrington from 3pm. We have all your favourite Christmas characters including Santa’s Elves, the grinch and a few surprises!
KATUMBA DRUMMERS – FREE | 4:30PM
Performing at Marketgate from 4:30pm, Katumba Drumming & Movement will create an explosion of rhythmic revelry described by onlookers as ‘hypnotic’, ‘transfixing’ and ‘empowering’. There Brazilian drums, spectacular choreography and a colossal sound will set the streets a blaze!
LANTERN PARADE – FREE | 5:15PM
Starting on Marketgate at 5:15pm, the Lantern Parade will set off with Katumba drummers leading the way down Sankey Street to the Town Hall where everyone will assemble on the front lawn for the Projection switch on.
The Parade will be filled with Christmas cheer, Father Christmas and his elves, the grinch and the Mayor of Warrington.
A SPECTACULAR AFTER DARK, LIGHT & SOUND SHOW – FREE | 6PM
A magical light and sound show of a festive story celebrating Christmas and New Year will be projected across the front of the Town Hall building from 6pm on the 26th and 27th November.
The festive show projection will last 15 minutes on a rolling basis until 9pm, so that passers-by who arrive near the end won’t need to wait long to see it start again.
The bespoke animation produced by Culture Warrington has been specially designed for Warrington by Double Take Projections, and will fit perfectly into the stonework of the Town Hall.
SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER – 11AM TO 9PM
CHRISTMAS ARTISAN MARKETS – | 11AM – 5PM
Warrington BID has joined forces with Independent Street Markets to showcase local artists and makers who will be providing a unique selection of foods and crafts over the weekend, whilst also creating a fantastic Christmas day out for all. With over 70 Christmas market stalls along Bridge Street, Marketgate, Horsemarket Street, Buttermarket Street and Bank Street.
So, expect amazing local food – freshly baked produce from micro bakeries, tasty street food, epic cakes, award winning Warrington based pies, fresh roasted coffee, Indian treats and delicacies, artisan gin, olives, and deli. There will also be beautiful, handcrafted jewellery, unique arts, craft, hand poured candles, cheese truckles, mulled wine, local photography, dog treats and much more.
FUNFAIR & SWING GRILL | 11AM – 8PM
Chadwick Funfair will land in Warrington once more, with a collection of fairground rides, including a carousel, train ride, Disney character toy ride and plenty of tasty Bratwurst!
COMMUNITY & SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CHOIR PERFORMANCES- FREE | 11AM – 4PM
Join us over in Old Market Place at Golden Square, where there will be a host of community and school choirs performing on the stage, spreading their festive joy.
Please see the below list of performers for our Carols around the Tree:
11am – Statham Community Primary School
12pm St Bridget’s & Our Lady’s School
1pm Evelyn Street Primary School
2pm Bewsey Lodge Primary School
3pm Locking Stumps Primary School
4pm Beamont Primary School
MUSIC | 11AM – 5PM
Join Radio Warrington at Marketgate, where they’ll be broadcasting live, entertaining us with Christmas songs throughout the day
THE RETURN OF AT NO.25 CHRISTMAS INSTALLATION– FREE | 11AM – 4PM
Back by popular demand, we see the return of Culture Warrington’s At No.25 Christmas Installation from last year but with a slightly different twist for 2022. Artists Erica Wilkinson and Lauren Muir have created a festive Nordic inspired space that will feel safe, comforting and fulfilling – a magical space that will encourage a moment of peace, calm and creativity in the busy Christmas shopping period, that facilitates the meeting of both friends and strangers. We will also add some magic by exploring some festive Nordic folklore characters and workshops throughout December.
*Situated in Golden Square, next to Costa.
FATHER CHRISTMAS AND HIS SLEIGH – FREE | 1:30PM – 6PM
Father Christmas will park his sleigh in town with his Reindeers (props), so you can take a seat and snap a precious memory. Father Christmas will be exploring the town centre and what we have on offer, chatting to all our children and finding out if they are on the naughty or nice list
STREET ENTERTAINERS – FREE | 3PM – 6PM
Special guests will be joining us on the streets of Warrington from 3pm. We have all your favourite Christmas characters including Santa’s Elves, the grinch and a few surprises
A SPECTACULAR AFTER DARK, LIGHT & SOUND SHOW – FREE | 6PM
A magical light and sound show of a festive story celebrating Christmas and New Year will be projected across the front of the Town Hall building from 6pm on the 26th and 27th November.
The festive show projection will last 15 minutes on a rolling basis until 9pm, so that passers-by who arrive near the end won’t need to wait long to see it start again.
The bespoke animation produced by Culture Warrington has been specially designed for Warrington by Double Take Projections, and will fit perfectly into the stonework of the Town Hall.
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