On your marks - get set for Festive Fun Day in Victoria Park

Article date: 2 November 2022

A collaboration between St Helens Borough Council and Willowbrook Hospice, with support from the Friends of Victoria Park group, the event will include a whole host of wonderful winter activities and attractions to raise money for Willowbrook, the chosen charity of the Mayor of St Helens Borough, Councillor Sue Murphy.  

Starting with St Helens Sports Development's annual Santa Dash at 11:00am - which will see hundreds of fun runners, including families, take on a 4k loop of Victoria Park - other attractions and activities include Santa's Grotto, real reindeer, a Christmas crafts and gift fayre, food and drink stalls and a children's funfair - before finishing with a Christmas tree lights switch on at 4:00pm. 

St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Wellbeing, Councillor Anthony Burns, said: "Every year, we host separate events for the Santa Dash and real reindeer visit which always attract good crowds, so we thought, why not bring the two together for one big event in such a beautiful, green setting while raising money for Willowbrook which provides a vital service to so many people in our borough.  

"Christmas events always bring a special kind of atmosphere and we're certainly looking forward to bringing our action-packed Festive Fun Day to Victoria Park for the first time which will have something for everyone to enjoy."  

Suzanne Davies, Events Manager at Willowbrook Hospice, said: "Everyone at Willowbrook is delighted to be the chosen charity for the Mayor's appeal this year and we are very excited to be part of the St Helens Festive Fun Day.  We are looking forward to taking our Christmas craft fair to Victoria Park for the first time, the perfect time to kick start your Christmas shopping while supporting Willowbrook.  

"The money raised from the event will go straight towards supporting our care for patients at the hospice. We only receive around a third of the money we need from the government and therefore we are very reliant on the generosity of the people across our community."

Festive Fun Day in Victoria Park will take place on Saturday 3 December between 11:00am-4:00pm.

Entry to take part in the Santa Dash is £5 for adults and £2 for children and young people aged 5-18.  To sign up, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/santadash  

For more information on Festive Fun Day in Victoria Park visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/christmas