Free Christmas events Liverpool 2025
Liverpool city centre always has loads of Christmas things to do and many of these are free. There are also free events across Merseyside to enjoy too. Below is my guide to free Christmas events Liverpool 2025 which is part of my guide to free Christmas events North West.
If you have an event you want to be added, drop me an email at – info@northwestforkids.co.uk and send me the details.
I’ve done my best to add the details of all these events accurately and keep it up to date but I strongly advise you to click through and check on the organiser’s website to ensure the dates and times have not changed and that the event is going ahead before travelling.
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Christmas at Liverpool ONE – 2025 details
When: Decorations and lights from 7th November 2025 – 4th January 2025
Events include:
Free Christmas toy parade
When: 15th November 2025
Dancing toys, glittering decorations and shimmering lights will fill the streets as Liverpool ONE stages its first-ever Toy Parade to kick off the Christmas countdown.
Christmas on the park (Chavasse Park)
When: Friday 7 November – Wednesday 31 December 2025
Selection of children’s rides, festive games, food, treats and more to Chavasse Park. Perfect for families with younger children to enjoy a festive fun experience right in the heart of Liverpool ONE.
Free Magical Thursday Evenings
When: Every Thursday from 20 November -18 December
Thursday evenings come alive with magical moments in the run up to Christmas. Highlights include giant illuminated penguins, carol-oke sessions, pass the parcel and festive surprises for visitors of all ages. Each Thursday offers unforgettable festive experiences for the whole family.
Free Christmas Trail
When: Saturday 15 November – Sunday 4 January
The popular Christmas Trail returns, creating a fun adventure around Liverpool ONE’s decorations and shop windows.
This interactive journey takes families on a magical quest discovering festive characters across the destination, complete with riddles and games for youngsters to enjoy. Perfect for keeping little ones entertained while Christmas shopping.
Full details and more here – Christmas at Liverpool ONE
Explore the Christmas lights in Liverpool city centre
There are loads of Christmas lights and of course a Christmas tree too across Liverpool city centre which you are free to explore.
Art Sparks Christmas – details for 2025
When: 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st & 23rd December 2025
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
This December explore your creativity as a family with the special festive themed facilitated activities and make a marvellous masterpiece to take home. Plus you’ll have some time to explore Big Art and all the wonderful resources for yourself.
Full details here – Big Art Special: Art Sparks Christmas | National Museums Liverpool
Free A Sudley Victorian Christmas – 2025 details
When: 6th & 7th December 2025
Enjoy heart-warming Christmas Carols, crafts and storytelling events all set against the backdrop of the beautifully decorated home. A wonderful day out to make memories, discover local history, and enjoy the excitement of preparing for a traditional Christmas. Adults and children are all very welcome and will find something to enjoy in this wonderful day.
Full details – A Sudley Victorian Christmas | National Museums Liverpool
Little Liverpool Christmas special – book soon for 2025
When: 2 – 23rd December 2025 (Tuesday to Sunday only)
Where: Museum of Liverpool
Little Liverpool Christmas specials are for visitors aged from birth – 6 years,
£2 per child
Book here – Little Liverpool Christmas special
Free Christmas Liver tots – 2025 details
When: 3rd December 2025, 10:30 – 11:30am, drop in
Where: Museum of Liverpool
A special festive craft event in the museum!
You and your baby or toddler can create a masterpiece together to take home. Have play, fun and make memories together.
This is a drop in event with no need to book.
Suitable for families with babies and toddlers under 36 months.
Full details here – Christmas Liver Tots
Pitter Patter Painters: Christmas – book now for 2025
When: 10th & 11th December 2025, 10am, 1:30pm
Where: Sudley Hall
Pitter Patter Painters is a messy, fun-packed workshop for very young children aged 3 and under. Within this festive themed sensory experience, our youngest visitors can enjoy exploring a variety of materials ranging in texture and consistency. A selection of tuff tubs will provide opportunities to explore, play and get messy! There will also be a a painting area provided with ideas to creating a painted card with your little one.
We recommend old clothes for all (adults and children) as we can’t guarantee everything will wash out. Aprons will also be available.
£5 per child
Book here – Pitter Patter Painters: Christmas | National Museums Liverpool
Free Santa arrival at Dobbies Garden centre – 2025 details
Where: Dobbies Liverpool and Southport
When: 23rd November 2025.
Cost: free
Summary: Santa’s grand arrival, live entertainment, exclusive discounts and book a grotto visit for the same day.
Full details here – Events | Dobbies Garden Centres
Southport Christmas Spectacular 2025
When: 15th November 2025
Enjoy a jam-packed live show with some of your favourite children’s characters, such as Bluey and Bingo, Peppa Pig, and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Stick around to get pictures with the characters at intervals, enjoy stalls and activities, and experience the brand new Musical Light Show too.
Elsewhere, there’s lots of fun taking place at Southport Market and Santa will be arriving at The Atkinson too!
To cap off a great day in Southport, head to The Grand for their annual Big Switch On event and enjoy DJ’s, choirs, and some festive food and drink.
Full details – Southport BID Christmas spectacular
Southport musical light show – 2025 details
When: 15th November – 31st December 2025 (Thursday – Sunday until the 22nd and then daily)
The town’s iconic 60-foot illuminated tree will feature state-of-the-art interactive shows, with 20,000 LED pixels animating in time with a medley of beloved Christmas classics.
A rotation of four different shows, each lasting five minutes, will play at twenty minutes intervals on select dates until New Year’s Eve.
Each show will include vibrant animations that move in time to a mash-up of Christmas hits.
Full details – Musical light show
Elf on the shelf hide and seek – Liverpool city centre – 2025 details
When: from 1st – 24th December 2025
Liverpool will once again become the stage for a giant Elf on the shelf game as a 15ft elf will appear across Liverpool city centre this December.
The Elf on the Shelf will only move at night, taking in fewer sights than last Christmas to get settled for a few days in one spot.
The Elf on the Shelf will be at locations across Liverpool City Centre along with free family fun including entertainment, performances and giveaways, starting at The Plaza on 1st December before moving to The Everyman Theatre on Hope Street, then at Liverpool Waters, Citadines on Church Street, Williamson Square, Royal Albert Dock and finishing at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for Christmas Eve.
In each location, The Elf on the Shelf will embark on some classic festive mischief, from Christmas jumpers to toilet paper decorations. In certain locations, he will also be collecting Christmas gifts for children at Alder Hey.
Full details here – The Elf on the Shelf® Scout Elf™ in Liverpool for Christmas | Liverpool BID Company
12 days of Christmas trail – Southport – details for 2025
When: from 15th November 2025
This year there are crochet displays celebrating the theme of the 12 days of Christmas.
The displays will be in place in windows of town centre businesses from 15 November, with visitors encouraged explore the town centre in search of all twelve trail points. More details on the trail will be announced in the coming weeks.
Details as they are released here – Southport BID Christmas
Santa visits Southport Market – no details yet for 2025
Gingerbread party people garden trail, Bluecoat – no details for 2025
FREE Liverpool’s Brightest Light Trail, Royal Albert Dock – limited det
Full details – Royal Albert Dock Light Trail – Visit Liverpool
Liverpool Winter Festival
When: 21st November 2025 – 5th January 2026
Where: Pier Head
Liverpool’s iconic Pier Head will transform into a sparkling Christmas village this winter – full of festive lights, rides, large ice rink, markets, food, Bavarian bar, tipis and live entertainment.
Entry is completely free, so everyone can enjoy the atmosphere, but the real magic happens when you book our special experiences.
Skate beneath the stars on the ice rink, meet Santa or the Grinchmas in our cosy themed grottos, or celebrate in style inside your own Luxe Dome Pod.
Full details here – Liverpool Winter festival
Christmas lights switch on events in Liverpool
- Liverpool – no official switch on
- Southport – 15th November 2025 – Southport Christmas Spectacular
- Huyton Village centre – 14th November 2025
- Prescot Town Centre – 15th November 2025
- Kirby town centre – 21st November 2025
- The new Albion Widnes – 28th November 2025
- Eagle and Child Halewood – 29th November 2025
- Details here – Marvellous markets
- St Helens – 29th November 2025
- Earlestown – 6th December 2025
- Find details of the 2 above here – St Helens Christmas lights
- West Kirby – no date yet. Full details here – Christmas lights switch on details revealed – West Kirby
- Woolton & Gateacre Christmas Tree Light Switch-on 2025 – no details yet
More things to do in Liverpool this Christmas
Find out where to have Breakfast with Santa Liverpool here.
Find a Santa’s Grotto Liverpool here.
Find a Christmas shows Liverpool here.
Find all the Christmas events Liverpool here.
