An all-new Christmas Corner, Europe’s largest walk-in Christmas tree, new stores and a charity partnership are all on offer as the festive season heads towards Cheshire Oaks.
The malls of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet will see the crowning glory of the centre’s festive celebrations on Wednesday November 9 with the annual switch-on of the iconic Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree.
This year Europe’s largest walk-in artificial tree, at its new location between Nike and Cafe Rouge on car park A, stands as tall as seven buses and will be brought to life with over 100,000 decorations, 1,000 of which are football size red baubles.
Inside the tree shoppers will be able to marvel at the thousands of twinkling lights as the interior becomes a magical world of its own with over five miles of illuminations.
The sparkling 18-ton behemoth, close to the M53, is a familiar Christmas feature at the centre with half a ton of nuts and bolts holding the tree together.
The centre will play host to entertainment from 6pm with PopVox Choir as seen on BBC’s The One Show and walk-about Christmas characters.
Santa and his Elves will be handing out festive treats to shoppers before turning on the lights at 7.30pm.
Christmas Day 2016
Santa is coming in
In a charity partnership, the tree will be staffed by volunteers from Claire House Children’s Hospice which provides care to children with life threatening illnesses. Although entrance is free, a recommended donation of £1 is suggested to help support their work.
The centre’s Christmas Corner will also return for 2016 bigger and better than ever.
The Après-themed bar will be decked and decorated in traditional style entered through magical archways while the Christmas Corner will also host a carousel, a German bar selling beers and gluhwein, a festive swing grill, hot chocolate, crepes, pick and mix and much more.
The malls themselves will have a new look with five new stores opening including The Kooples, Hotel Chocolat, Paul Smith, Build-a-Bear and The Calendar Club.
Designer outlet manager Kenny Murray said: “Our traditional and now iconic Christmas tree is always a real draw for festive shoppers and we hope to make this year even bigger and better with a new and improved Christmas Corner and lots of exciting in-centre activities.
“With over £40,000 raised for charities over the years, we are proud to be partnering with Claire House Children’s Hospice for 2016 and hope to help them raise a significant amount for their incredible cause.”
