Families can follow a very special trail in Southport this year - with illuminated Christmas decorations designed by local children!
Families can follow a very special trail in Southport this year - with illuminated Christmas decorations designed by local children!
Youngsters got the chance to create their own designs in an Illustrate Illuminate competition run by Southport Business Improvement District.
There are eight beautiful designs to spot, drawn in style by artists aged between five and 17 years old, from now until 2nd January 2023.
They include a penguin, two snowmen, a reindeer, a Christmas present, an angel and two Christmas trees.
The decorations have been placed in locations throughout Southport town centre, with a map available on the Southport BID website.
An iPad is available for the winner of the Illustrate Illuminate competition.
The designs were then hand crafted by Southport firm IllumiDex UK Ltd, which has also installed Southport’s illuminated Christmas tree and its festive decorations.
Last year, in an initiative led by Southport BID, IllumiDex installed the ‘boulevard of lights’ with 300,000 trees along Lord Street in Southport.
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “The pictures that local children sent to us through the Illustrate Illuminate competition were really heart-warming!
“Christmas is all about children and being able to see their imagination brought to life in this way has been a really special experience.
“We would encourage people to download a trail map from our Southport BID website and to try and find as many as they can - you could win an iPad!
“The Trail is one of many events and attractions people can enjoy in Southport this Christmas, which have been funded by local businesses and put into place by the BID.
“Please support your local businesses in return and choose local this Christmas!”
When taking part in the Illustrate Illuminate Trail, make a note of the letter assigned below each light as you find them.
When you have them all, unjumble the letters, and spell out a well-known festive word.
Post your entries to Santa’s letterbox in Marble Place shopping centre on Chapel Street in Southport town centre, and you will be entered into the draw to win an iPad.
The artwork has been created by:
Louie Smitton, age 5 - ‘Louie The Snowman’,
Louie loves decorating the house with all things Christmas! He loves the Grinch (he watches it all year round) but most of all he loves writing and posting his letter to Father Christmas
Elsie Taylor, age 8 - ‘Elsie’s Red Nosed Reindeer ‘
Elsie’s favourite things about Christmas are pulling Christmas crackers, seeing family and giving gifts
Ellie Shires, age 7 - ‘The Gift of Light ‘
Ellie’s favourite things about Christmas are presents, family time and decorating the tree
Tabitha McDonald, age 12 - ‘Snowy the Penguin’
Tabitha’s favourite things about Christmas are family, hot chocolate, and Christmas films.
Elodie Wohlers, age 8 - ‘Christmas Bauble Sparkle’
Elodie’s favourite things about Christmas are songs, trees and presents.
Livinia Hargreaves, age 8 - ‘The Holy Trinity Angel’
Livinia loves spending time with her family, opening gifts and staying up at night to see Santa deliver the presents.
Brandon O’Callaghan, age 17 - ‘The Clementine Tree’
Brandon’s favourite things about Christmas are family, presents and food.
Riley Rea, age 11 - ‘Riley’s Snowman’
Riley’s favourite things about Christmas are presents, spending time with family, and decorating the Christmas tree.
The Illustrate Illuminate Trail is among a wide range of fun festive activities being provided by Southport BID through funding by local businesses, to attract people to come and enjoy all that the town has to offer.
Other attractions include a Gingerbread Trail, Christmas Carriage rides, a Christmas Grotto, a Christmas Elf Party, a Frozen Grotto and more. A special Festive Fun Day was held in November.
Southport BID has worked alongside Marketing Southport to create a physical and digital brochure for the Southport town centre Christmas programme. This includes details on all BID-funded activities, a map for the Gingerbread Family and Illustrate Illuminate trails, and other key events from partners in the BID area.
Christmas brochures are available digitally, while the BID has also distributed 5,000 copies to venues throughout Southport town centre.
More information on all of this year’s events and activities can be found atwww.southportbid.com/christmas