A brand new family-friendly Christmas festival will arrive in Altrincham next weekend.
The Altrincham Santa Festival, from the team behind the Altrincham French Festival, is based on the European-style St Nicholas Day celebrations.
Taking place on Saturday December 5th and lasting between 10am ad 9pm, the festival will begin with the Santa Team Challenge, which will see teams of four donning a Santa Claus outfit and completing a variety of challenges including wrapping presents, a tug of war and eating mince pies.
Entrants to the Santa Team challenge can do so for free for the next 72 hours whilst there is still availability – you can enter here.
The festival will also see Kings Court turned into a Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Grotto for a Santa Party from 5-9pm. Children will be able to meet Santa and receive a gift. Tickets are £10 per person which includes a gift, a hot snack and a drink.
The Winter Wonderland has been inspired by Lapland and designed by Open Studios Altrincham, who are using students and a local craft group to help build the attraction.
And there will be a Santa Claus candlelight parade, stalls selling festive foods and Christmas craftwork, organised children’s activities, carol singing and dancing.
The Winter Wonderland will also be open on the weekends of December 12th and 13th and 20th and 21st December between 10am and 4pm. Tickets are available from Kings Café.
Childrens activities include a treasure hunt for children under eight years old, face painting, live music, dancing and carol singing along Stamford Quarter and George Street.
In Art with a Heart (AWAH), children will be able to take part in a range of craft activities including making mosaic pictures, take part in a paper coffee cup colouring competition sponsored by Rhode Island Coffee, and meet Santa Claus.
Organiser Zainul Sachak said: “This Santa Festival is closely linked to the European celebration of St Nicholas Day which occurs on 5th December and is the inspiration behind the modern day Santa Claus.
“St Nicholas Day is a popular occasion for children in many parts of Europe because children usually receive gifts on this day. Some European cities such as Bari in Italy recognize St. Nicholas as the patron saint and celebrate with different activities such as gift-giving, parades, feasts and festivals.
“We hope with this event to bring this tradition alive in Altrincham and hopefully it will become an annual event.”
