As our production of Miracle on 34th Street brings a little bit of 1940s Christmas in New York to Williamson Square. We take a look at what the festive period in Liverpool has looked like down the years.

From the world famous docks, through the city’s very own department stores, to Liverpool’s abundant green spaces, our city has always been a place that embraces the festive season. Families from across the North West and further afield flock to Merseyside in December to take in the decorations, do their Christmas shopping or simply celebrate yule in a city which is always partial to a party. We wanted to look back at Christmas in Liverpool down the years with grottos, concerts, trees and shoppers.

Perhaps Liverpool’s proudest claim to Christmas fame is the fact it hosted the world’s first Christmas Grotto. Lewis’s Department Store, which served Merseyside’s seasonal retail needs from 1856 to 2010, housed the Christmas Fairyland from 1879 and gave many a generation their first meeting with Father Christmas. The Grotto was a wonderland of festive magic with lights, displays and latterly, animatronic polar bears. Over the years it won a special place in Merseysiders’ hearts and when Lewis’s closed its doors for the final time, the grotto was relocated to ensure the attraction kept wowing visitors young and old.

Liverpool’s other answer to Macy’s was department store Blackler’s. Situated on the corner of Elliot Street and Great Charlotte Street (now a Wetherspoons pub!), the shop was another popular retail destination for the best part of the 20th Century. During its pomp Blackler’s welcomed more than 10,000 visitors a week to its Winter Wonderland Grotto. Central to their Christmas display was this 4.5m Santa, which has recently being added to the displays at the Museum Of Liverpool.

Music is the cornerstone of a magical Christmas and as one of the city’s premier exports, it’s no surprise that the streets of Liverpool are filled with seasonal melodies over the weeks of December. The festive period is a busy time for the Salvation Army Band and the ensemble have long been a popular draw amongst families wanting to hear familiar favourites. Here we see them entertaining a crowd near to Lime Street Station around one of the city’s municipal trees in 1954.

Elsewhere in the city centre, Liverpool Passenger Transport Band accompanied ten Liverpool schools who came together for a carol concert. In the picture is Windsor School’s deputy headmaster conducting the singers in Clayton Square back in 1962.

Miracle on 34th Street is at the Playhouse until Sat 4 Jan 2020.