BLACKPOOL'S festive shopping campaign bursts into life bigger and better than ever this Saturday (November 27) when panto stars switch on the Christmas lights.
Blackpool Town Centre Forum has masterminded the town's biggest shopping and leisure promotion yet around the dual attractions of Christmas and the New Millennium.
Processions, entertainers, carol singers and bands will brighten every weekend and Thursday late-night openings, while shoppers will be lured with free car parking on some weekends, cheap parking on others, penny bus fares at certain times and park and ride schemes.
The fun kicks off this Saturday with a Santa Claus procession at 2.45pm from North Station, with bands, costume characters and clowns, culminating in the official switch-on of the Christmas and Millennium illuminations at 4pm in Bank Hey Street, behind Pricebusters. Grand Theatre panto stars from Dick Whittington will perform the switch-on, including Deborah McAndrew - formerly Angie of Coronation Street - Bigger Breakfast presenter Ben Shephard, Anna Karen of EastEnders and The Wave radio station's Tom Bright.
Blackpool tourism executive George Bancroft said: "Blackpool is the place to come to shop and enjoy yourselves this Christmas and New Tear.
"The Christmas and Millennium lights are bigger and better than ever, the entertainment is first class and the shops look as bright as they've ever been, particularly in the refurbished Hounds Hill Centre."
Every Thursday evening up to Christmas, schoolchildren will add an extra glow to the town with lantern processions from 6.30pm, led by the Angel of Light.
Christmas shows include not only Dick Whittington (December 15-January 8), but Jesus Christ Superstar at the Opera House (now until January 8), Peter Pan's Flying Circus at the Tower (December 4-January 9), a traditional English Christmas concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on December 19 and a Millennium Eve Gala Concert on December 31, both at the Grand Theatre.
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