Dancing on Ice star Dan Whiston to open Blackpool's Christmas ice rink in front of the Tower this week - here's when and where
and live on Freeview channel 276
The resort entertainer will be joined by 17 young cast members from the Mary Poppins On Ice musical, who will perform during an hour-long event which starts at 4.30pm on Friday.
Three-time Dancing on Ice champ Dan, 44, will launch a Christmas spectacular, which also includes fake snowfall, log cabins, a magical forest, festive light projection shows, and Christmas tram rides along the Golden Mile.
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Hide AdThe synthetic ice rink will be free, with sessions lasting 40 minutes with 10 minutes either side for people to change their skates.
Booking isn't needed - people can just turn up and enjoy the attraction, which will be open from Thursday-Sunday from November 19 until December 17 and then daily until January 3.
A designated changing facility and skate aids will be available, with the 40 metre-long rink able to accommodate 160 skaters per session.
The opening hours are as follows, though they are subject to change and weather dependent.
Fri 19 Nov 5pm-9pm
Sat 20 Nov 12pm-9pm
Sun 21 Nov 12pm-6pm
Mon 22 Nov Closed
Tue 23 Nov Closed
Wed 24 Nov Closed
Thur 25 Nov 5pm-8pm
Fri 26 Nov 5pm-9pm
Sat 27 Nov 12pm-9pm
Sun 28 Nov 12pm-6pm
Mon 29 Nov Closed
Tue 30 Nov Closed
Wed 1 Dec Closed
Thur 2 Dec 5pm-8pm
Frid 3 Dec 5pm-9pm
Sat 4 Dec 12pm-9pm
Sun 5 Dec 12pm-6pm
Mon 6 Dec Closed
Tue 7 Dec Closed
Wed 8 Dec Closed
Thur 9 Dec 5pm-8pm
Fri 10 Dec 5pm-9pm
Sat 11 Dec 12pm-9pm
Sun 12 Dec 12pm-6pm
Mon 13 Dec Closed
Tue 14 Dec Closed
Wed 15 Dec Closed
Thur 16 Dec 5pm-9pm
Fri 17 Dec 12pm-9pm
Sat 18 Dec 12pm-9pm
Sun 19 Dec 12pm-8pm
Mon 20 Dec 12pm-8pm
Tue 21 Dec 12pm-8pm
Wed 22 Dec 12pm-8pm
Thur 23 Dec 12pm-8pm
Christmas Eve 12pm-5pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day 12pm-8pm
Mon 27 Dec 12pm-8pm
Tue 28 Dec 12pm-8pm
Wed 29 Dec 12pm-8pm
Thur 30 Dec 12pm-8pm
New Years Eve 12pm-8pm
New Years Day 12pm-8pm
Sun 2 Jan 12pm-8pm
Mon 3 Jan 12pm-8pm
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Hide AdThe ‘Christmas by the Sea village’ will remain in place until January 3 as part of the extended Illuminations season, which will see the Lights on over Christmas and New Year for the first time.
Here's what else is planned:
FAKE SNOW FALL
Regular snowfall will burst out of cannons near the projection unit on the Headland throughout the evening from November 19 until January 3.
MAGICAL FOREST
Alongside the cabins there will be a Christmas tree forest with 35 trees and twinkling lights. Visitors can walk through a 26-metre light tunnel.
LOG CABINS
Visitors will be able to drink hot chocolate, eat warm cookie dough, and sip on mulled wine bought from the log cabins. The lit-up cabins will be on the Headline from November 19 to December 12 on Fridays to Sundays, opening from 6-9pm on Fridays, and 12-9pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Hide AdFrom December 17 to January 3, they will open from Monday-Sunday from 12-9pm.
GIANT ILLUMINATED BAUBLE
The seven-metre bauble will be on the Prom next to the ice rink. It will be made up of 7,000 tiny baubles.
FESTIVE TOWER PROJECTIONS
Several projections will be screened onto the outside of the Tower until January 3, including Astral Dreams, a laser show created by Blackpool-born designer Jack Irving, who is best known for creating wacky theatrical outfits for Lady Gaga.
THEMED TRAMS
‘Magical Express’ tours will see visitors board Christmas-themed heritage trams for afterdark trips through the Lights. Journeys will last 25 minutes and run every half an hour. They will cost £4 for adults and £2 for children. There’s no need to book. The tours will run from 5-8.30pm Fri-Sun and 1-8.30pm Sat and Sun from November 19 to December 12, and 1-8.30pm Mon-Sun from December 17 to January 3.
WINTER GARDENS WONDERLAND
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Hide AdThe venue will have indoor and outdoor Bavarian-style chalets, funfair rides, entertainment, and a Santa’s Grotto, as well as food and drink stalls, from November 26 to January 2. It will run by 11am-8.30pm Mon-Thurs, 11am-10pm Fri and Sat, and 11am-5pm Sun.
WHERE TO SEE SANTA
- Winter Gardens, Blackpool, £15, November 26-January 2 excluding Christmas Day, book at blackpoolpromotions.com/santas-grotto-blackpool
- Houndshill Shopping Centre, £5, 10am-4pm, selected dates, book at visitblackpool.com/detail/houndshill-santa-s-grotto-750160
- Pleasure Beach, £15.99, Weds-Sun throughout December and every day in run-up to Christmas eve, book at blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/whats-on/grotto
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Hide Ad- Coral Island, £7.99 or £3.99 for children three and under, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm from November 20 to December 19, book at coralisland.co.uk/christmas
- Ribby Hall Village, £22, November 13-December 24, book at ribbyhall.co.uk/eat-drink-play-shop/santas-grotto
LATE NIGHT SHOPPING
The Houndshill will be open until 8pm each Thursday in December, with many other resort shops following suit.
Hot chocolate drinks and shortbreak biscuits will be served in the town centre while stocks last.
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Hide AdThe Grinchie will be walking about on December 23 from 5-8pm.
SHOWS AND PANTOS
- FriendsFestive, until November 19, Winter Gardens, £32 plus £2.50 booking fee, see sets from the hit American sitcom Friends, book at friendsfestive.co.uk/blackpool-winter-gardens
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, December 3 to January 2, Grand Theatre, panto, book at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/snow-white-new-2021-22
- Aladdin - The Pantomime, November 25 to December 24, Pleasure Beach’s Globe Theatre, panto, book at blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/shows/aladdin-the-pantomime
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Hide Ad- Santa’s Magical Workshop, December 19-24, VIVA Blackpool, help elves find Santa, £20 for children plus £10 adults, book at vivablackpool.com/event/santas-magical-workshop
- Hairspray, December 13 to January 2, Winter Gardens, musical, £17.50, book at visitblackpool.com/detail/hairspray-972760
- The Rocky Horror Show, December 6 to 11, Winter Gardens, theatre, £17.50, book at visitblackpool.com/detail/the-rocky-horror-show-988270
- VIVA Christmas Party Nights, December 2 to 24, VIVA Blackpool, from £17.50, vivablackpool.com/event/viva-christmas-party-spectacular-show
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Hide Ad- Winter Wonderland Spectacular Showtime, November 14 to January 2, Ribby Hall Village, £12.50 per person, book at ribbyhall.co.uk/winter-wonderland-spectacular
- Sleeping Beauty, November 20, Grand Theatre, £33.50-£39.50 adults, £25.50 under-18s, ballet, book at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/sleeping-beauty-2
- New Year’s Eve Northern Soul and Motown Party, 7.30pm, December 31, Winter Gardens, £15, book at wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/new-years-eve-northern-soul-motown-party
- Viva New Year’s Eve Gala Spectacular, 7.30pm, December 31, VIVA Blackpool, £34.50, book at vivablackpool.com/event/viva-new-years-eve-gala-show-2021
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Hide Ad- New Year’s Eve Family Party Night, 8pm, December 31, VIVA Blackpool (Festival Suite), £30 including food for adults/OAPS, £15 children with under-fives free, book at vivablackpool.com/event/new-years-eve-family-carnival-party-night/
- Gatsby Christmas Dinner Show, December 3 to December 18, Pleasure Beach’s Paradise Room, from £25, blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/shows/gatsby-christmas-dinner-show
- Grand Christmas Concert, 8-10pm, Monday, December 13, Grand Theatre, £17.50 adults, £13.50 for 18-26 year olds (limited to first 50 tickets), £13.50 under-18s, book atblackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/grand-christmas-concert-2021
- The Winter Ball, 6.30pm, Sunday, December 19, Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, £45, book at wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/the-winter-ball
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Hide Ad- The Snow Queen, December 10-13, various times, The Old Electric, production by Community Theatre Company, £5, call 01253 834175
- Jingle with The Jeps, 7pm, Saturday, December 4, Imperial Hotel, £39.95, call 01253 754601
- Kings and Queens New Year’s Eve Special, 6.30pm, December 31, The Showbar on Central Pier, from £20, call 01253 623422
- Saturday Sunday Lunch at the Imperial, 1.30-4.30pm, December 12, Imperial Hotel, £17.50 for adults, £8.75 children aged six-12, call 01253 754612
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Hide Ad- Dinner with the Deadbeats, 7pm, December 3, 10, 16, £39.95, Imperial Hotel, 01253 754601
FIREWORK DISPLAY
A free display will be held at around 5pm opposite the Tower on New Year’s Eve.
RIDE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Similar to the late summer event, the Prom will be shut to traffic from 4-8pm on Sunday, December 5, so cyclists can ride through the Lights.
Participants are asked to decorate their bikes with colourful lights and laterns.
Taking part is free.
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Hide AdNote: The trams will be running; all bikes must have a white light at the front and red at the back; helmets are recommended; children must be with an adult; marshalls and first aiders will on hand, as will bike doctors and support vehicles; and the road will reopen at 8pm.
PARKING OFFER
Three hours’ parking will cost £1 from November 17 to January 3 in all Blackpool Council car parks excluding the Talbot multi-storey and Filey Place using the PayByPhone app.
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