Bournemouth's most successful Christmas attraction ever welcomes animation to the town

12th December 2018

Following an unprecedented number of visitors to the town – reflected in a 42% increase in footfall since its launch – Bournemouth’s brand new Christmas Tree Wonderland welcomes a programme of children’s characters for the next phase of free, festive family entertainment, starting tomorrow, Thursday 13 December.

Featuring over 100 dazzling trees and illuminations, Christmas Tree Wonderland is brand new to Bournemouth and is already attracting huge numbers of people to the town with counters recording more than 300,000 footfall in the resort’s historic Lower Gardens since the launch on 16 November.

In spite of storms and torrential downpours, the town is on course to achieve the anticipated ½ million visitors in the six weeks of Christmas Tree Wonderland. Visitors and residents will also find it easier to travel into the town centre with the A338 fully open over the Christmas period.

On the back of a hugely successful launch event, attracting an estimated 18,000 people, the entertainment schedule is the next phase of festive fun on offer in the free winter spectacle.

First to pay a visit is the winter fairy, as well as Aphrodites – a duo that will be singing a whole host of familiar Christmas tunes. Other highlights include a polar bear, snow lion and snow globe, plus many more magical characters.

Animated characters will be in the Lower Gardens along the Christmas Tree Wonderland trail every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from now until the New Year, with performers also enchanting shoppers at Beale Place on selected dates.

Jon Weaver, Head of Marketing & Events at Bournemouth & Poole Tourism and curator of the Christmas Tree Wonderland, said: “It’s been a true pleasure to see people enjoying the illuminations. The attraction has taken a lot of planning and this is precisely what we’d hoped for, and more besides. To see children and families taking time out to follow the trail, smiling and looking up at the lights, is really what Christmas is all about and we’re thrilled that so many are choosing to come to Bournemouth. The footfall counters are showing numbers in the heart of the resort in line with those recorded in summer weeks at height of the season.”

The Bournemouth Wonderland Tree – a 60ft feature tree at the centre of the trail – has proved a very popular highlight and its light shows run daily every half an hour from 5.30 – 8.30pm (except Christmas Day).

Last week also saw the first in a series of light and pyrotechnic shows at the big wheel in Pier Approach which will run every Friday and Saturday until 28 December.

Visit Christmas Tree Wonderland, until 2 January. Full details of character appearances are listed on www.christmastreewonderland.co.uk. Please be aware that these may be subject to change.