East Lancashire's socially distanced Christmas festival, complete with drive-in pantomime, Santa's grotto and live reindeer, opens this weekend.

Following the success of the UKs first ever socially distanced music festival over the summer, organisers of the Gisburne Park Pop-Up events are getting ready to fling open the gates to their Christmas festival on Friday December 4. 

Determined to bring some Christmas cheer to 2020, the action-packed, family focused pop-up Christmas festival will take place over a thousand acres at the stunning Gisburne Park. 

Lancashire Telegraph:

At the heart of the event is a large traditional outdoor market home to craft stalls, food vendors and pockets of interactive socially distanced Christmas entertainment for all ages.

As well as the UK's largest drive-in pantomime, the event boasts a Covid safe outdoor Santa's Grotto with live reindeer and Santa’s helpers.

Owner of the estate, Amber Hindley said: “We are very excited to have two reindeer as part of our family here at Gisburne Park Estate.

"After the year everyone has had we wanted to bring as much joy to not only our Pop Up guests but the guests staying at Ribblesdale Park holiday park.

"Unfortunately, we have had to close the park due to Tier 3, so this really is something for us all to look forward to.

"They really are magical creatures and we know the children will love them."

After putting on a successful drive-in firework display in November, organisers of the Christmas festival will host the first drive-in pantomime, Aladdin, when the park opens its doors a day early on December 4.

Director of Gisburne Park pop-up, Robyn Isherwood said: "Christmas isn't cancelled.

"In light of the recent government Tier 3 announcement, we are working around the clock to ensure Christmas will happen.

"It's been a really tough year, particularly after a hard month of lockdown so we are determined to bring some normality back to people's lives and give them something to look forward to. 

"Although we are in Tier 3, Gisburne Park is classed as an outdoor visitor attraction with an outdoor market we are ensuring every safety measure required is in place."

"In November we staged a drive-in firework display, which had to moved due to the national lockdown, however it proved to be hugely successful, as a result, we were keen to offer a drive-in element for families and what a better way than the timeless tradition of a pantomime.  

"The performers from the pantomime, provided by Amy Toole at Pop-Up Entertainment are in a bubble, are tested regularly, and live together in her purpose built studio, allowing them to practise for the show to bring some much needed festive fun for families around the region.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

A total of eight showings of the pantomime will take place in the first and the third weekend in December.

Full Covid-19 safety measures will be implemented at the ticket-only festival to ensure that families can still enjoy the magic of Christmas while remaining safe.

A large outdoor open sided barn will be home to a plethora of festive food stalls and street food trucks.

Although table service is no longer allowed, there will be access to an app ordering system allowing people to enjoy their festive treats as a takeaway while experiencing some classic Christmas entertainment.

A beautiful Tipi village set up by Betty’s Tipi for Santa’s Grotto, all with raised sides will operate in 30-minute slots and include access to the Grotto, a Santa's letter, reindeer petting, small Christmas gifts and a socially distanced visit with the man himself.

Doors officially open on Saturday December 5 with more than 7,000 tickets already sold.

Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for children.

Further charges apply for activities such as Santa’s Grotto and the Drive-in Pantomime.

The event will run every weekend until Christmas with plans to add on additional dates and extend the sessions in the week leading up to Christmas day.

For more information and bookings, please visit www.gisburneparkpopup.com