Douglas to undergo Christmas makeover with outdoor cinema, Santa's grotto & ice sculptures

Douglas will be going fully festive this Christmas with not one but seven event areas.

Each will host different attractions on Thursday, November 19 from 5.30pm until 8.30pm.

Douglas Mayor Jon Joughin will address the town through a speaker system at 7pm when the Christmas lights will be switched on.

Castle Street will be transformed into an outdoor cinema featuring 'The Snowman' on a loop with deck chairs and blankets and the occasional flurry of ‘snow’.

Sam Webbs’ licensed area will be offering hot drinks and mulled wine and Santa will be in his Strand Centre grotto where he’ll be joined by his ‘little helpers’ from 3FM.

Granville Street will house an ice sculpture, alongside a professional photographer for spectators from 6 to 8pm.

Meanwhile, Howard Street will be filled with the sound of live music from local groups and bands and Villiers Square will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with free children’s rides and stalls.

Douglas town band will be playing in Regent Street, the cast of Sleeping Beauty - this year’s Gaiety Theatre pantomime - will be in the town centre during the evening and well-known children’s characters will be visiting some of the shops.
 
Duke Street will be turned into an amphitheatre where Hello Little People theatre group will be performing their Christmas Beg Adventure show three times during the evening and where nearby at the Henry Bloom Noble Library, elves will be hard at work hosting a Christmas craft workshop.

Duke Street will also be the starting point for a lantern parade that will make its way through all the event areas.