When Warrington Weekend Wonderland will be in town

As well as Christmas artisan markets, there will be a funfair, music, a light and sound show, a parade, and much more.

It will be the perfect start to the festive season.

Warrington Weekend Wonderland will take place on Saturday, November 25, and Sunday, November 26.

It is being brought to you by Warrington Business Improvement District, with support from Culture Warrington and Warrington Borough Council.

Here is the itinerary which can be found on the We Are Warrington BID website:

Saturday, November 25 – 10am to 9pm

Christmas Artisan Markets – 10am to 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, Buttermarket Street and into the Time Square Quarter.

So, expect amazing local food – freshly baked produce from micro bakeries, tasty street food, epic cakes, award winning pies, fresh roasted coffee, 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 – 10am – 9pm

Hackett’s Funfair and Sharlands Amusements will land in Warrington, with a collection of fairground rides, including a jumping Santa ride, ice spinners, hook-a-Santa, candy canes, and plenty of tasty treats.

Community and 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.

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 5pm.

The Return of ‘At No.25 Christmas Installation’ at Queens Gardens - Free – 11am – 8pm

 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 2023. Created by local artists Erica Wilkinson and Lauren Muir with support from Warrington and Vale Royal College students, Queens Gardens comes alive with a Narnia themed winter wonderland installation with live performance. *Situated in Queens Gardens, opposite the Parr Hall.

Children’s Christmas Workshops - Free – 11am – 4.30pm

Culture Warrington will be continuing their popular children’s workshops at New Art Spaces (former M&S unit). This is a great opportunity for all the family to create Christmas crafts together that can be used for the Town Centre Parade at 5pm (this is a free family-friendly drop-in activity)

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 J He will also be joining you all on the Christmas parade from Time Square to the Town Hall.

Street Entertainers - Free – 1pm – 5pm

Special guests will be joining us on the streets of Warrington from 1pm. We have all your favourite Christmas characters including Santa’s Elves, the grinch and a few surprises!

Katumba Drummers - Free – 4.30pm

Performing at Time Square 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!

Christmas Parade – Free – 5pm

Starting on Time Square Quarter at 5pm, the Parade will set off with Katumba drummers leading the way down Rylands 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 – 5.15pm – 9pm

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 25th and 26th 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 featuring a bespoke poem by local storyteller Flick Goodman, photos of Warrington’s past & artwork by local children.

Sunday, November 26 – 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, Buttermarket Street and into the Time Square Quarter.

So, expect amazing local food – freshly baked produce from micro bakeries, tasty street food, epic cakes, award winning pies, fresh roasted coffee, 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 - 10am – 9pm

Hackett’s Funfair and Sharlands Amusements will land in Warrington, with a collection of fairground rides, including a jumping Santa ride, ice spinners, hook-a-Santa, candy canes, and plenty of tasty treats!

Community and School Christmas Choir Performances – Free – 10am – 5pm

Join us over in Old Marketplace at Golden Square, where there will be a host of community and school choirs performing on the stage, spreading their festive joy.

Music – 10am – 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 at Queens Gardens – Free – 11am – 8pm

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 2023. Created by local artists Erica Wilkinson and Lauren Muir with support from Warrington and Vale Royal College students, Queens Gardens comes alive with a Narnia themed winter wonderland installation with live performance. On Sunday 26th only At No.25 in Queens Gardens will featuring a living snow globe and mystical Snow Queen. Ethereal and magical, the Snow Queen in her snow globe enchants and mesmerizes as she mingles with visitors. Gliding gracefully through events, she creates her special brand of magic and with it, lasting memories. She encourages all those who gaze upon her to interact with her.

Beautiful music fills her space, lights illuminate her and snow rains down on the mystical Snow Queen, while she smiles and reaches into the hearts of onlookers, leaving an indelible mark on those who get lost in her vision.

This year, At No.25 has moved to Queens Gardens featuring a living snow globe and mystical Snow Queen. Ethereal and magical, the Snow Queen in her snow globe enchants and mesmerizes as she mingles with visitors. Gliding gracefully through events, she creates her special brand of magic and with it, lasting memories. She encourages all those who gaze upon her to interact with her. Beautiful music fills her space, lights illuminate her and snow rains down on the mystical Snow Queen, while she smiles and reaches into the hearts of onlookers, leaving an indelible mark on those who get lost in her vision. *Situated in Queens Gardens, opposite the Parr Hall.

Children’s Christmas Workshop – Free – 11am – 4.30pm

Culture Warrington will be continuing their popular children’s workshops at New Art Spaces (former M&S unit). This is a great opportunity for all the family to create Christmas crafts together that can be used for the Town Centre Parade at 5pm (this is a free family-friendly drop-in activity)

Street Entertainers – Free – 1pm – 5pm

Special guests will be joining us on the streets of Warrington from 1pm. We have all your favourite Christmas characters including Santa’s Elves, the Grinch and a few surprises.

A Spectacular After Dark, Light and Sound Show – Free – 5pm

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 25th and 26th 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 featuring a bespoke poem by local storyteller Flick Goodman, photos of Warrington’s past & artwork by local children.