Member Article

Heswall ICE Festival launches four-day programme

Organisers of one Wirral’s largest Christmas events ‘Heswall ICE Festival’ are expecting up to 10,000 visitors to join celebrations at an action packed four-day extravaganza.

Heswall Business Association (HBA) is aiming to transform Heswall high street between December 1 and 4 with the first ever Interactive, Creative and Educational (ICE) Christmas festival to be hosted by the town.

The association - chaired Wirral business incubator Whitfield Business Support (WBS) - gained council permission earlier in the year to hold an extended street celebration.

It subsequently embarked on an ambitious crowd funding initiative appealing to local businesses and residents to help contribute to the £20,000 event costs.

The festival is now set to run from the Devon Doorway roundabout, up Telegraph Road, alongside Heswall Library and the Fire Station, through to Puddydale (Puddingdale) Park.

More than £6500 was pledged through the internet scheme while more than 45 stalls have signed up to participate in the multi-themed event – set to include live music, singing competitions, German themed Christmas markets, workshops, outdoor shows, tented villages and an ornate lighting display running throughout the town.

Whitfield business support director Justine McLaughlin said plans for the festival had gained strong momentum and she is now launching a fresh appeal to local businesses to extend opening hours over the festival period.

“There has been a terrific response to the ICE Festival as we aim to make the first week in December a truly magical start to Christmas for all visitors,” she said. “We quickly realised that one day would not be enough to satisfy visitor demand or fulfil the event’s potential, so we have extended it into a four-day extravaganza. We have been highly encouraged by the community support through the month-long crowd funding initiative. A key aim is to bring the community even closer together, to encourage greater interaction between residents and local businesses to stimulate community relationships, trade and festive good will.

“We have branded the celebration the ‘ICE Festival’ which stands for Interactive, Creative & Educational. Unlike many Christmas celebrations this is not a commercial money-spinner, this festival is designed to involve all the family with plenty to do and get involved with. The HBA is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation so the event is entirely self-funding thanks to the generous donations and time devoted by local businesses and community members. However, we are still working hard to raise more cash to help finance the event which will cost in the region of £20,000.

“Importantly, we are also supporting the Candice Colley Foundation, a local charity helping people with leukaemia and their families. We are keen to see Wirral and Cheshire people uniting to support this community event.”

A main stage will be located on the Puddydale Park hosted by Wirral Radio and a host of live musicians and singers. It will also see an ‘ICE Factor’ singing competition for under 16s, over 16s and groups jostling for a £1000 first place cash prize.

Creative craft workshops will be held for children and adults on wreath and table centrepieces, card making, sand art, cooking and creative writing, wand and fairy-wing making.

A Christmas present wrapping service has been kindly donated by Hallmark. Meanwhile, visitors can also enjoy Santa’s Grotto, a dog grotto (with professional dog photographer), a live nativity and a Christmas choir.

The event will run from 4pm to 9pm on December 1 and 2, 10am to 9pm on Saturday, December 3, and 10 to 4pm on Sunday, December 04. Limited parking will be available. Creative workshops and select events are bookable online.

Anyone wishing to pledge cash to support the Heswall ICE Festival can do so via the Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Heswall-ICE-Christmas Anyone wishing to enter the ICE Factor singing competition can send a video or audio audition to hello@heswallicechristmas.co.uk For more information on the festival visit the website www.heswallicechristmas.co.uk email hello@heswallicechristmas.co.uk or call 0151 342 0590.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Pinnington .