Shoppers can start the countdown to Christmas in style with a weekend of free, festive entertainment for all the family at intu Metrocentre on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November.
The winter weekend of fun will be a two day celebration heralding the start of intu Metrocentre’s festive season featuring magical animatronic characters, roaming entertainment, dance performances, music, food sampling and competitions galore.
Visitors who are eagerly anticipating a white Christmas will be happy to hear that festive snow flurries are forecast with an artificial snow pit in Exhibition Square – the perfect place to make snow angels, providing all the fun of the festive season without the chill!
The winter wonderland theme continues with a special visit from Bjorn the Polar Bear – an animatronic polar bear puppet complete with blinking eyes, a sniffing nose, moving mouth and realistic sounds. intu Metrocentre’s smallest visitors are sure to be captivated and, for inquisitive explorers, Bjorn’s friend Ursula will also be on hand with fun facts about polar bear habits and habitats.
Over the course of the weekend local musicians will be adding to the festival atmosphere while fairytale princesses and the Metrognomes will be entertaining shoppers on the malls. Visitors will also be treated to the comedy capers of the electro-glide snow angels who will be roaming the centre spreading Christmas cheer and their very own brand of festive magic.
The cast of Newcastle Panto Company will be performing in centre, giving the audience a sneek peek of the much-loved family-friendly pantomime Sleeping Beauty, which is coming to the Indoor Stadium Theatre at Gateshead International Stadium in December.
Shoppers can also be in with a chance of winning a family ticket to see Sleeping Beauty plus a £100 intu Gift Card by snapping a selfie at the Newcastle Panto company stand.
intu Metrocentre’s shoppers will be delighted to hear that Santa’s free grotto, in association with Playmobil, also opens in time for the winter weekend of fun. Santa Claus will be welcoming children to his grotto from 9am on Saturday 11 November – every child receives a free gift and has the chance to tell Santa what’s on their Christmas wish list. The Grotto is situated in the lower Qube, Yellow Mall and includes fun colouring in stations for the kids.
Exciting competitions will be taking place over the weekend with fabulous prizes up for grabs; shoppers who hand in their wristbands from the Saltwell Park fireworks display on 4 November to any intu Metrocentre customer service desk on the 11 or 12 November will be entered in to a prize draw to win a £200 intu Gift Card.
As well as festive entertainment, the weekend of 11 and 12 November will see staff and shoppers from intu Metrocentre paying respects to to the civilians and armed forces personnel injured or killed in action since the First World War at the two minutes silence at 11am on Armistice Day at intu Metrocentre’s Poppy Chandelier.
intu Metrocentre Chaplain, Lyn Jamieson, will lead a special Remembrance Service at 3pm on Sunday 12 November in Town Square, outside House of Fraser, with The Ad Murum Singers from Heddon-on-the-Wall and The Salvation Army, Newcastle City Temple Band, performing at intu Metrocentre between 2.30pm and 2.50pm. Members of the Air Training Corps and young cadets from the police will also be present to pay their respects.
Helen Atkinson, marketing manager at intu Metrocentre, said:
“At intu Metrocentre there’s always a wonderful atmosphere in the run up to Christmas – with sparkling decorations, tasty festive treats and an array of shops with perfect gifts for loved ones.
“We hope that our winter weekend of fun adds an extra touch of magic to the festive season. Fabulous free entertainment, creative children’s activities and the chance to meet Santa Claus is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit, make magical memories and start Christmassing!”
Winter Weekend of Fun at intu Metrocentre:
11/12 November
FREE
intu Metrocentre
Bjorn the Polar Bear:
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 at 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm
Upper Town Square near Goldsmiths
Full event details at: