A Showstopping Record 10,000 Santas Ready To Dash In Liverpool This Weekend

Peter Eric Lang
1 hour ago
6 min read

LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE, CITY OF LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL CITY REGION.

A Showstopping 10,000 Santas Ready To Dash In Liverpool This Weekend

(Credit: Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content). — (Credit: Erica Dillon/Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

BTR Liverpool Santa Dash on Sunday the 7th of December 2025.
Entries race past 10,000-mark to make it biggest dash ever.
Last chance to register at St Johns Shopping Centre.
The day includes free Arriva bus travel, the Rock Choir Liverpool, Katumba drumming band, and an after party at Gravity MAX.

Over 10,600 red and blue Santas will descend on Liverpool City Centre this Sunday the 7th of December, for one of the most iconic local sporting events of the year.

Festival spectacular BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is often regarded as the City’s kick-start to Christmas.

Limited places are available from the Santa Dash pop-up shop at St Johns Shopping Centre. The event is likely to sell out for a second year.

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This year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest to date since the Liverpool Santa Dash was first staged in 2004. It is the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run.

Last year’s event attracted over 8,500 Santas, making it the biggest dash for a decade. This year’s entries have already surpassed that number.

This year has seen the biggest number of blue Santas reaching 1,000 places. Blue entries sold out early November. More than 600 mini Santas have already signed up, making it an extra special dash for the little ones.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 5K starts at 9.30am from Pier Head Liverpool, taking Santas through Grade I Listed Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, round the city centre, before a showstopping finish line at Liverpool Town Hall featuring stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow.

This is followed by the Mini Dash 1K, which starts in Castle Street at 11am. This is a shorter run for youngsters aged 12 and under.

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The Santa Dash pop-up shop is at St Johns Shopping Centre for the ninth consecutive year – and a team of 40 from the centre will be taking part.

Shop opening times are 9.30am to 5pm for new entries and suit collections. No more entries will be taken when the shop closes at 5pm on Saturday 6 December. The shop is located near the Matalan bridge and Post Office.

This year’s event has attracted Santas visiting from overseas including Australia, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea – as well as others from closer to home from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

The youngest Santa registered is four-month-old Luca McGreary who will wear the number 1 in the Mini Dash 1K.

The most senior Santa is 88-year-old David Bliss from Liverpool, who is taking part in the 5K.

The Santa Dash will be officially started by Lord Mayor Of Liverpool, Councillor Barbara Murray. She will wave off thousands of Santas as they cross the start line, before then cheering on youngsters at the Mini Dash 1K.

The Lord Mayor will be joined on stage by former Liverpool Football Club goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who is an Ambassador for LFC Foundation and a mental health advocate. Chris is taking part in the main Santa Dash.

There is also a return visit for the event’s official Santa, Father Chello – who proved to be a massive hit last year.

In Demand Radio is the event’s Official Media Partner, there is free bus travel for Santas from Arriva North West, alongside event support from partners St Johns Shopping Centre and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

Presenters Lee Butler, Claire Simmo, and Graeme White from In Demand Radio and In Demand Decades will host all the fun on the stages at the start and finish lines. Claire will also be presenting her show from the event throughout the day.

Arriva North West is supporting the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash for the eighth time with free bus travel across Liverpool City Region.

Santas must be wearing their Santa suit and race number on the morning to enjoy a free ride into the city centre; or their Santa suit and finishers’ medal when travelling home. There is no cut-off time to travel after the event.

Rock Choir Liverpool is back to entertain Santas for a third consecutive year. They will be located at Derby Square, so Santas will see them as they dash along James Street before heading into the city centre.

Liverpool drumming band Katumba are back to bang their drums in a big way as Santas dash towards the finish line on Dale Street. Once the mini Santas have completed the course, Katumba will bring the event to a rousing close with a grand finale.

The fun doesn’t stop at the finish line. In Demand Radio is also hosting the Official Santa Dash After Party at Gravity MAX in Liverpool ONE between 12pm and 5pm on the terrace.

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Nick The Lunatic Fezzy Pop Show is live from 12pm to 2pm, followed by John B and Claire Simmo with Christmas party tunes until 5pm. Entry is free.

In Demand Radio and In Demand Decades are proud to be the Official Media Partner of the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2025.

“Come and join us for the biggest festive 5K fun run in the UK – and kick-start your Christmas in real Liverpool style.” - Alan Rothwell, BTR Race Director.

The stations have helped to amplify the excitement in the lead-up to one of the region’s most iconic festive events, supporting community spirit and encouraging thousands to get involved.

In Demand Radio Presenter Claire Simmo commented: “The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is such a brilliant, feel-good event that brings the whole city together. We’re thrilled to be supporting this festive spectacular – helping to spread the word so even more families, friends, and local runners can join in the fun.”

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash was created by BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell and was first staged in 2004.

It has since established itself as a firm favourite in the city’s events calendar, massively boosting the city’s economy on the day including hospitality venues.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash entry fee covers all costs to organise and deliver the event including road closures, safety measures, Santa suits, medals, goodie bags, and entertainment.

Santas are encouraged to fundraise for one of the eight charities being supported by the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash to boost their vital work in the local community.

The eight charities are Alder Hey Children’s Charity; Claire House Children’s Hospice; Clatterbridge Cancer Charity; Liverpool Women’s Hospital Charity; Liverpool Zoe’s Place; Mersey Cares; North West Air Ambulance; and Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

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The Santa Dash is accessible and open to everyone. Santas walk, jog, or run alongside wheelchair participants, charities, families, friends, colleagues – baby Santas in prams, and four-legged furry Santas.

The event also acts as a platform for community groups, businesses, and charities to fundraise independently while taking part.

A team of 120 from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service are taking part. This is the 18th year they have been involved after first supporting the Santa Dash in 2007. The group is made up of firefighters and non-operational staff, they will represent the organisation to support the ethos of health and wellbeing.

Other large groups taking part include 60 Santas from Carpenters Solicitors; 60 Santas from Innox Trading Limited from Skelmersdale; 60 Santas from West Wallasey Van Hire; 30 Santas from Wirral Grammar School; and 20 Santas from Hillside High School in Bootle.

BTR Liverpool is the leading organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. The annual calendar of competitive races and fun runs take place between March and December.

The portfolio includes Liverpool Half Marathon, Mersey Tunnel 10K, Run For The 97, Women’s 10K, Port Sunlight Road Race 10K, and Wirral 10K.

BTR Race Director, Alan Rothwell, said: “This year has flown by in a complete flash – packed with competitive races, fun runs, and endless achievements and memories made for our BTR participants. And now we’ve come to the final BTR event of the year, and it’s a real family favourite.

He added: “Places are limited and are likely to sell-out – making it the biggest ever Liverpool Santa Dash. It’s a unique experience and every Santa really does feel part of the day. The smiles and laughter are infectious – there is nothing quite like it.

He said: “Come and join us for the biggest festive 5K fun run in the UK – and kick-start your Christmas in real Liverpool style.”