You can meet Santa on a festive ferris wheel at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas

Santa is taking to the skies once again this Christmas, and families will get the chance to meet him in one of the most unique locations in the region.

With the festive season fast approaching, and now just 48 days to go until the big day is here, there’s arguably no better place in the North West to get cracking on your Christmas shopping than at Cheshire Oaks.

Just less than an hour’s drive from Manchester city centre, Cheshire Oaks is the largest Designer Outlet in the UK, and is home to over 400,000 square feet of retail space – with more than 150 boutiques, restaurants, and cafes to choose from.

But no festive visit to the shopping village is complete without meeting Santa, right?

Although this year, Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto will look a little different to usual, as after what was the smash-hit success of the first ever ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience last year, the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again in 2023, and inviting you on a fantastical festive adventure on the outlet’s ‘Big Wheel’.

Taking pride of place next to the iconic Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree – which stands at whopping a 90ft tall, and is in the heart of all the action – the Big Wheel offers shoppers breathtaking views of the Cheshire skyline all lit up brighter than ever before, so it’s not hard to see why Santa is pulling up a pew on there for another year.

The ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.

Open every weekend and on selected weekday dates throughout December, with 10-minutes flights taking place from 2pm-7:30pm on Fridays, and 9am-4pm on all other days, included in the ticket price is a place on the Big Wheel flight with Santa and his elves, as well as a complimentary hot chocolate, festive cookie, and a personalised lanyard.

Little ones will also get a free bag of reindeer food to take home with them too.

Also new for this year are ‘Sensory Sessions’ inside the iconic Christmas tree – which will be running for the first hour of every open day, and will accommodate anyone with sensory or access needs.

While ‘Santa in the Sky’ and ‘Sensory Sessions’ are bound to be the stand-out events, that’s not all that’s on offer at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas, as the outlet’s much-loved Winter Village is also back for another year, so you can take a break from shopping and snuggle up to enjoy a festive drink and bite to eat in one of the bookable Christmas huts.

Whether you’re in the mood for a bratwurst straight from the swing grill, a cup of hot mulled wine, or a delicious hot chocolate, the German Christmas market-inspired Alpine Lodge is the perfect place unwind and soak in the festive spirit after a long day of grabbing gifts.

Cheshire Oaks’ General Manger, Kenny Murray, says the outlet wants to give visitors an “unforgettable experience” this Christmas.

“By bringing back our much-loved Winter Village and the return of last year’s Santa in the Sky experience, we have made sure our guests will have an unforgettable experience visiting our centre this festive season,” he explained.

“We’re confident our unbeatable prices across a selection of our much-loved premium brands to explore will allow our guests to shop for the best festive gifts, whilst also enjoying the holiday cheer through the many activities scheduled this winter”.

Tickets for ‘Santa in the Sky’ are going on sale next Monday (13 November) from 10am, and are likely to sell out, so you’ll need to be quick if you’re looking to secure your spot.

Read more:

• This little hidden Manchester cinema is screening loads of classic Christmas films all throughout December
• You can eat a luxury Christmas dinner while riding a steam train through Greater Manchester
• A festive pop-up cafe for sausage dogs is coming to Manchester this Christmas

You can find out more about what’s on at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.

Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks