With a little help from actress and singer Claire Sweeney, Enchanted, Knowsley Safari’s beloved festive extravaganza, officially opened to the public on Saturday, 30th Nov.
This year, Enchanted boasts all the traditional family favourites, enhanced by the addition of a Santa Panto, a mini theatre show that combines the magic of Father Christmas with the fun of a pantomime. You can visit Enchanted right up until Monday 23rd December 2024.
Annie Stocks, 10, from Haydock, St Helens, who emerged victorious in Knowsley Safari’s inaugural Search for a Star talent competition, was a star guest at Enchanted. For a single night, she graced the stage with a solo performance of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Then, for the finale, Annie went on to join Claire Sweeney and the rest of the cast to sing Merry Christmas Everyone, leaving pantomime guests in full festive spirit as they left.
Santa Panto, a ticketed event that runs several times each evening during every Enchanted event, provides each attending child with a small cuddly toy. This is just one of the new and exciting features at this year’s Enchanted event. The whole family can have fun capturing memories on the spectacular light trail with new illuminated animals, including giraffes and a male lion with his cub, as well as the moving Rainbow Road, icy-blue Arctic Arcadia, and, of course, the Talking Tree!
Visitors can spot illuminated hippos submerged in the Safari’s natural water features, explore an Enchanted Woodland and the ultra-Christmassy Winter Village with the much-anticipated marshmallow toasting and plenty of festive food and drink. Illuminated amusements and rides will also keep the young ones entertained.
Claire said:
“I loved visiting Knowsley Safari as a child. An everlasting memory will be us crying with laughter as the baboons pressed their bums on our car windows and tried to steal our windscreen wipers, so it’s extra special to be back here with my own son to help kickstart the Enchanted festivities.
“I absolutely love Christmas and always start early. Our tree has been up for weeks and visiting an experience as magical as Enchanted, with its beautiful lights and toasted marshmallows, has just made us even more excited for Christmas.”
Enchanted tickets are available now, from £10, with special discounts for members. Under 1s and carers are free of charge. Santa Panto tickets are available to Enchanted ticket holders at a cost of £10 per child and £5 per adult. Access to Enchanted is from 4pm until 8pm. Santa’s Grotto tickets (weekend daytime only) are £20 per child, in addition to a regular Safari admission ticket.
Guests are advised to book early due to demand on the website.
READ MORE: THE LIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS RETURNS TO LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL
