Headlining this year’s extravaganza in Church Square will be Bulsara and his Queenies – a team of world class musicians who deliver the most remarkable musical performances of iconic British rock band Queen.
Joining them on the day will be a whole host of local talented performers from the world of music and dance – including boy band, The Alleys; opera singer, Tom Loughlin and the mega-talented MD Productions.
While there will also be appearances from movie characters from Star Wars and Frozen; Strictly Come Dancing’s Robin Windsor who is starring in the Theatre Royal’s Christmas panto, Aladdin; as well as Saints ace James Roby who captained his side to victory at the 2019 Super League Grand Final – and team mate Matty Lees who was voted Super League Young Player of the Year.
Pride of St Helens winners, Mason Naylor and Joey Tildesley-Devine, will be amongst those to press the button to officially mark the countdown to Christmas in St Helens.
An ice rink and children’s fair will also be in the centre of town to add to the occasion, with hot food and drink available throughout the day.
All the action will take place in Church Square between 12:00pm -6:00pm on Saturday 30 November.
A number of local lights switch on events are also taking place across the borough over the coming weeks.
Times shown below indicate when the Christmas lights will be switched on, so arrive before then to see what else is going on.
Garswood
Stag Pub
22 November – 6:00pm
Rainhill
Houghton Street
23 November – 4:30pm
Earlestown
Market Street
24 November – noon – 6:00pm
Peasley Cross
Peasley Cross Road
26 November – 4:00pm
Moss Bank
Elliott’s Field
29 November – 3:30pm
Bold
Burnage Avenue
28 November – 3:30pm
Bold
Delamere Avenue
29 November – 3:30pm
Haydock
Haydock Library
29 November – 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Newton-le-Willows
St Peters Church
1 December – 5:00pm
Bold
The Pastures
1 December – 6:30pm
Fingerpost
Fingerpost Shopping Centre
Tuesday 3 December -4:00pm
Eccleston
Eccleston Library
5 December -11:00am
Eccleston Park
St Helens Road
5 December – 11:00am
Bleak Hill Primary School
Bleak Hill Road
6 December – 2:30pm
Thatto Heath
Thatto Heath Road
6 December – 4:00pm
Parr
Derbyshire Hill Road
6 December – 4:00pm
Billinge
Millenium Garden
6 December – 6:00pm – 6.30pm
St Mary’s Market
7 December
Windle
Dentons Green (top of the green on grassed area)
7 December
Windle
Victoria Park
7 December -noon – 5:00pm
Rainford
Church Road
7 December – 3:00pm
There’s so much happening across the borough over the coming months to keep you entertained and get you in the Christmas spirit.
Local independent business, Phoenix Apparel, will bring their hugely successful winter fair back to the iconic St Helens Town Hall on Saturday 23 November, 10:00am-4:00pm, where a range of plant-based treats and arts & crafts will be on display, perfect to pick up as a Christmas gift for your loved ones.
The same day sees the launch of a Christmas Grotto in the former Topshop unit at Church Square Shopping Centre, where children can receive a gift from Santa and share their Christmas wishes.
Then on 29-30 November, Absolutely Fabulous Gin Festival will return to St Helens Town Hall for the third time for a festive celebration. With more than 119 gins to try and live entertainment on offer, it promises to be a brilliant occasion. Purchase your tickets at www.skiddle.com
If it’s theatre and art you’re in to – why not check out what Citadel Arts have on offer in their pop-up shop in Church Street, St Helens Town Centre. View their event listings at www.citadel.org.uk – or visit the Heart of Glass’ MadLove Take Over festival exhibition which is on display in the former Argos unit on Church Street until the end of November.
Heading into December a winter festival is coming to St Helens’ green-flag award winning Victoria Park on Saturday 7 December, where Windle’s Christmas lights will be switched on.
Visitors can enjoy live music courtesy of a brass band and school choirs or pick up some treats at number of Christmas craft and gift stalls – while children can visit Santa in his Grotto and meet ice princesses.
The same day will see the start of an action-packed events programme at St Mary’s Market.
Tickets for the Grotto – which will be open from 1:30pm-4:00pm – cost £5 and can by booked by emailing fovpinfo@yahoo.com.
And then Father Christmas and his reindeer will return to Church Square on Saturday 14 December, 12:00-4:00pm – while earlier that day, hundreds of people are expected to take part in St Helens Sports Development’s Santa Dash fun run in Victoria Park at 11:00am.
For regular updates on events happening in the town centre and right across St Helens Borough over the coming months like What’s On In St Helens on Facebook, or follow @whatsonsthelens on Twitter.
Don’t forget: parking on all council-run town centre car parks is now free on Saturdays until the end of January 2020.
