Big festival of winter fun has just booked in
WE know the sun’s shining but when it comes to big news for the festive season, it’s never too early to talk Christmas.
And that’s especially true when a new family extravaganza is coming to town.
Winter Funland has been unveiled as the new festive attraction to take over EventCity, near the Trafford Centre, this December.
And what’s even better is that the event is the brainchild of Simon Goldman - the man behind the Geronimo family festival coming to Arley Hall and Gardens later this month - which means he’s already got some children’s TV favourites on board.
Headline acts include Cbeebies’ Andy Day and his Odd Socks Band as well as the popular Cirque de Hilarious - and there are plenty more to come.
The new-look ‘immersive event’ will play host to ‘the UK’s largest indoor theme park’ and taking inspiration from Geronimo - the festival dubbed ‘Glastonbury for kids’ - it will feature fairground attractions including waltzers, a helter skelter and an ornate Victorian carousel.
A new addition will be a custombuilt 800 sq m indoor ice rink and there’ll be an expanded 1,200-seat auditorium to fit even more people inside.
There’ll also be a Santa’s Grotto and post office and the chance to feed Santa’s reindeer.
Simon Goldman, Geronimo founder and Winter Funland organiser, said: “We want to deliver an unforgettable Christmas experience from start to finish for families and ensure that they leave EventCity feeling truly festive with lots of memories to treasure.
“We understand how expensive the festive season can be and so visitors to Winter Funland will have nothing extra to pay. Once inside, all the festive fun including ice skating, shows and fairground rides are all free of charge.”
Simon Jones, from EventCity, said: “Geronimo Festival is now a staple of the annual family calendar and the experience and creativity they bring to every event they organise will ensure that EventCity will be the most festive place outside Lapland this Christmas.
“Our venue is perfectly sized to host this event and families can enjoy everything under one roof with 17,000 free car parking spaces and easy access to all the intu Trafford Centre has to offer.”
The event will run with two sessions a day between December 7 and January 1. Tickets will cost £22.50 and children three and under go free.
The announcement comes as Kingpin Events, the company behind Winter Wonderland, confirm they will not be returning to EventCity this year ‘due to a substantial increase in rent.’
Tammy Silcock, CEO, said they are ‘currently looking for an alternative venue that can accommodate the show.’