Words by Ed King
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as Santa opens up his Grotto on Erdington High Street and welcomes young people and families to help him kickstart the festive season.
Located outside the entrance to Wilton Market, opposite the Christmas Tree, Santa’s Grotto will be open on the following days:
- Saturday 6 December (11am to 3pm)
- Saturday 13 December (11am to 3pm)
- Friday 19 December (3pm to 6pm)
- Saturday 20 December (11am to 3pm)
And no matter what list you might be on this year – naughty, nice, or a little of both – everyone visiting Santa’s Grotto can get their picture taken with the big man in red and receive a free Christmas gift to take away.
There will also be free hot chocolate, teas, coffees, mine pies and other Christmas treats for everyone as they exit the Grotto – served by the hardworking elves from the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID).
Single child tickets are prices at £5 (including a photo and free gift), with discounts for families visiting the Grotto at the same time.
No advance booking is necessary, and payments can be made by card or in cash on the day.
Organised by the Erdington Rotary Club and Erdington BID, all money raised at Santa’s Grotto will go back into supporting local projects and Erdington High Street.
Santa will be also sticking around for a special appearance on Saturday 6 December – to join the Erdington Ward Councillors Robert Alden and Gareth Moore as they switch on the Town Centre Christmas lights at 5:30pm.
To celebrate the festive season, Erdington Business Improvement District are organising a series of special Winter Warmer Fun Days on Erdington High Street – held every Saturday on the run up to Christmas Day (6, 13, and 20 December) from 12noon to 4pm, by Santa’s Grotto and the Christmas Tree.
Following on from the series of community events held over the summer, the Erdington BID Winter Warmer Fun Days will bring back a day of free children’s games and activities to the Town Centre – including a bouncy castle and arts and crafts workshops.
There will also be a chance for Erdington locals – of all ages – to design their own Christmas decoration or lantern, which will be displayed during a special light parade on Erdington High Street on 20 December and welcome in the Winter Solstice.
A spokesperson for Erdington BID told: “Christmas is a time to celebrate community, and we hope to see everyone on the High Street this December to enjoy a bit of free festive fun and welcome in the yuletide.”
They added: “Santa will be with us every weekend until Christmas Day, and there will be a lot of free games and activities – and mince pies – for everyone to enjoy.
“Come down and celebrate Christmas every Saturday in Erdington Town Centre and help us warm up the winter months.”
Erdington High Street’s Winter Warmer Fun Day and Christmas events are being organised as part of the Erdington BID’s LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaign – and are part funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
