Got that festive feeling? You’ll feel it soon. That’s because we’re here to help you discover the best Christmas markets in Blackpool and nearby.
Every market offers an experience all of its own. There’s a family-friendly festive funfair. There’s a farm filled with handmade goodies. There are ponies. Street food. Elves. You name it.
But all of the best Blackpool Christmas Markets have something in common, too. You can spend a day shopping and still make it back to our Blackpool hotel in time for a nightcap.
Ready to shop until your stocking bursts? Here’s where to sniff out those festive treasures.
Christmas By The Sea
Where: Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool, FY1 5JA
When: Friday 15 November to Sunday 5 January, 12:00 to 21:00
Cost: free
We can’t talk about Christmas markets in Blackpool without mentioning Christmas By The Sea.
Yes – this is the king, queen and chief elf of Blackpool Christmas markets. From mid-November every year, it sees Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland transform into a carnival of colour, light and family fun.
There are stalls, of course. Head to the Bavarian-style Christmas chalets to find vendors selling decorations, gifts and tasty treats under light-strewn wooden roofs. Cosy.
But shopping is just the start. Christmas By The Sea, you see, is as much a funfair as a Christmas bazaar.
In classic Blackpool style, the event features nearly a dozen fairground rides. That includes tea cups for kids and a 260-foot tall swing ride for adventurous adults.
Then there’s the Blackpool Illuminations – a world-famous light show that’s been running since 1879. And a free ice rink. And simulated snow. And mesmerising projections on Blackpool Tower. You get the idea – there’s a lot to see and do.
To top it all off, the event will host a free party on New Year’s Eve. Expect fireworks, of course, as well as an oompah band and other family-friendly acts.
Penny Farm Christmas Fair
Where: Penny Farm, Blackpool, FY4 5JS
When: Sunday 1 December, 11:00 to 15:00
Cost: free to enter; Santa’s grotto costs £7.50 per child
Fancy a break from all the excitement of Christmas By The Sea? Take a 10-minute trip to Penny Farm and prepare for some gentle festive fun.
This much-loved local horse sanctuary has plenty of activities planned. There’ll be donkey rides to please the kids, craft sessions to entertain adults and carol singers to warm the heart. Whilst this fabulous Christmas Fair isn’t technically apart of the Blackpool Christmas Markets, you can peruse stalls staffed by local crafters and meet some of the sanctuary’s resident ponies, who doesn’t love that?
The star of the show, however, has got to be Santa. Old Red will be posing for photos and handing out gifts in his grotto throughout the day.
Admission is free – but you’ll need to book a spot online before you visit. A visit to Santa’s grotto costs £7.50 per child and includes a free gift. Grotto visits also need to be pre-booked.
Fleetwood Christmas Festival
Where: Marine Hall, Fleetwood, FY7 6HF
When: Sunday 1 December, 10:00 to 16:00
Cost: free
Fleetwood Christmas Festival also isn’t technically one of the Blackpool Christmas markets. However, the town of Fleetwood is one of Blackpool’s nearest neighbours and is well worth a visit in its own right.
And when the festive season rolls around, the town’s historic Art Deco-styled Marine Hall puts on a delightful Christmas celebration for all the family.
This year, the hall will host nearly 30 exhibitors, including street food vendors, charities and a swathe of local crafters. You can also catch performances by a long-established Lancashire brass band and a couple of cheeky elves.
Get there at 10:00 for the grand opening if you want to make the most of the fun.
Crafty Vintage Christmas Markets
Where: Blackburns Farm, Wrea Green, PR4 2PA
When: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, 10:00 to 16:00
Cost: free
Finally, let’s head to Wrea Green near Kirkham to snap up some vintage bargains. The village is about a 20-minute drive from Blackpool and all of the main Blackpool Christmas Markets – but when you see the rare goodies on offer, you’ll know the trip was worth it.
Yes, the Crafty Vintage Christmas Markets are a little slice of paradise for retro fans and craft lovers. The organisers promise ‘one-of-a-kind handmade treasures’ as well as funky vintage finds.
And that’s not all. The markets will also offer cocktails, street food and the chance to meet Santa Claus – plus storytelling sessions in a cosy yurt.
The event is free, but booking online is essential. Get clicking.
Did somebody say ‘Christmas break’?
You can’t beat the Christmas routine. Well, except when it all starts to feel a bit routine.
So, why not break with tradition and break here in Blackpool?
Our seaside town is famous for its fun, carnivalesque atmosphere. And at Christmas, every light seems to twinkle that little bit more brightly – not least because the world-renowned Blackpool illuminations are shining until January 2025.
Stay at Forshaws Hotel and you’ll be right at the heart of all the fun and joy of the Blackpool Christmas Markets. We’re directly opposite Blackpool Pier, so you won’t find a better spot for a festive getaway or pre-Christmas cooldown.
To get started, check out our comfy sea-view rooms. See you at the front desk!
