Liverpool Santa Dash: Countdown For The 20th Milestone Event As Excitement Builds For Charity Race

Liverpool Santa Dash Starts Countdown As Excitement Builds For The 20th Milestone Event Which Supports Alder Hey Children's Hospital

The Liverpool Santa Dash in 2022 with the Alder Hey Mascot, Oli, leading the way (Credit: Paul Francis Cooper/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian 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 3rd of December 2023.

• Alder Hey Children’s Charity named Charity Partner.

• Radio City on-board as Media Partner.

• Arriva North West confirm free bus travel for Santas.

• Partners also include St Johns Shopping Centre and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

Organisers of the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash have revealed plans for this year’s event to continue the excitement for the countdown to the much anticipated race.

This is always an exciting date for eager Santas who are counting down the days to this year’s event, which takes place on Sunday 3 December 2023.

The 2023 event is a significant milestone in the history of Liverpool Santa Dash – this is the 20th staging of the festive spectacular, which was created by BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell and first held in 2004.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is thought to be the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run – and is highly regarded as the city’s kick-start to Christmas.

Last year’s event attracted 5,500 Santas – and online entries are open through the BTR Santa Dash page on their website.

Organisers BTR Liverpool have announced the official charity partner as Alder Hey Children’s Charity; Radio City as media partner; and supporting partners Arriva North West, St Johns Shopping Centre, and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

'It’s always an incredible sight to see thousands of Santas dashing through the dock on Santa Dash day. We’re thrilled to be part of such an inclusive, family friendly event during this milestone 20th year.' - Sean Morrison, Estate Manager of Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

BTR Liverpool have also revealed the design of this year’s commemorative finishers’ medal. A new range of red and blue Santa Dash T-shirts and hoodies merchandise will also be available to purchase.

A new promotional video has also been launched online by BTR Liverpool, which can be found through their YouTube video.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity Is The Event’s Official Charity Partner

Alder Hey is devoted to transforming young lives through funding state-of-the-art equipment and facilities and ground-breaking medical research. The charity’s aim is to deliver a fun-filled and positive experience for families – even at the toughest times – by raising money for innovative projects and creative activities. Thanks to generous donations, the charity has proudly pioneered life-saving treatments and provided comfort for young patients and their families.

Santa Dash participants or supporters can fundraise or make a donation on the official Alder Hey Liverpool Santa Dash giving page.

Adam Dixon, Running and Challenge Manager at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, commented: 'We are so excited to once again be the official charity partner for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash. We always look forward to the event as it really is the start of Christmas and gets us all in the festive spirit – and our mascot Oli will also be on the start line! Alder Hey is close to the heart of many Santa Dash participants with most local families having a connection to our hospital. Funds raised will help benefit the 330,000 patients and families we treat at Alder Hey every single year.'

Adam added: 'If you would like to take part in the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash and support Alder Hey then please get in touch.'

You can register your involvement through the Alder Hey Charity website.

Alder Hey treats over 330,000 children every year – that’s over 900 children each and every day, more than any other children’s hospital in the UK.

We always look forward to the event as it really is the start of Christmas and gets us all in the festive spirit – and our mascot Oli will also be on the start line!' - Adam Dixon, Running and Challenge Manager at Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity supports the work of Alder Hey by raising much needed funds that are spent directly on initiatives in the hospital to benefit patients. Without the support of charitable donations, many of the outstanding facilities and innovations at Alder Hey could not be achieved.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity has raised over £72m since 2013 for a range of life-saving medical equipment and facilities that are making a real difference to families every day.

Radio City Is The Event’s Official Media Partner

With Radio City is the event’s Official Media Partner, Leanne and Scott from the Radio City Breakfast Show will be throwing themselves into the fun of the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash in the months leading up to the event in December.

Leanne and Scott who host the Radio City Breakfast Show (Credit: Radio City/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Leanne and Scott present the Radio City Breakfast Show every weekday between 6am and 10am. The show is broadcast live from the top of the Radio City Tower, reaching an audience of 228,000 listeners every week. As well as hosting the Breakfast Show with Scott, Leanne is a star of stage and screen, international business entrepreneur, and charity ambassador. Scott’s been by Leanne’s side since 2020, waking listeners up with tales of misspent weekends, a doomed dating life, and the intricacies of being an honorary Scouser.

Leanne from Radio City, said: 'We are so excited to be working with BTR Liverpool on this year’s milestone 20th Santa Dash event. It’s always such a fantastic sight to see thousands of Santas take over the City – and we know it means Christmas has officially arrived in Liverpool! We’ll be having so much fun every morning on Radio City Breakfast, so if you’re running it, come and be part of the show! You might even see us dashing on the day…!'

Radio City is part of the Hits Radio Network, available on FM, DAB Digital Radio, Freeview, smart speakers, and online. It’s home to the Radio City Breakfast Show with Leanne and Scott, the UK Chart Show with Sam Thompson, and The Hits Radio Throwback show.

It’s always such a fantastic sight to see thousands of Santas take over the City – and we know it means Christmas has officially arrived in Liverpool!' - Leanne from Radio City.

Aimed at an audience of 25 to 44-year-olds, Radio City is here to connect with listeners that lead busy and chaotic lives, by providing an entertaining and fun escape. Bursting with huge tunes and big personalities, Radio City is led by a team of original, authentic presenters, who love to surprise and entertain listeners, but above all love music, featuring a soundtrack of the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks.

Transport Partner Arriva North West Confirm Free Bus Travel For Santas

Arriva North West is supporting the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash for the sixth time with free travel for Santas on the Arriva bus network across Merseyside on event day.

To claim complimentary bus travel to or from the city centre, Santas must be wearing their Santa suit and race number on the morning, or their Santa suit and finishers’ medal when travelling home. There is no cut off time post run.

Jay Drummond, Arriva Regional Marketing Manager, said: 'The Santa Dash is a real highlight in the city’s event calendar and we are delighted to again support the event with free bus travel on the day for Santas. It is a fantastic event which brings people together for a day packed with festive fun, with many raising much-needed funds for charity. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of red and blue Santas on-board our buses throughout the day, it’s a pleasure to be involved.'

Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,600 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 10 European countries.

We are part of Deutsche Bahn (DB), one of the world’s leading passenger and logistics companies. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, and on-demand transport solutions, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four lines of business: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands, and Mainland Europe.

Arriva has operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

St Johns Shopping Centre's Santa Dash Pop-Up Shop

St Johns Shopping Centre will again host the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash pop-up shop. The Santa Dash pop-up shop will be at St Johns Shopping Centre for the seventh consecutive year. The shop will open on Wednesday 1 November. It will be open every day until Saturday 2 December for registrations, Santa suit collection, and Santa Dash merchandise will be available to buy.

Neil Ashcroft, Centre Director of St Johns Shopping Centre, added: 'We are delighted to be welcoming back the Santa Dash pop-up store to St Johns. It is an event that we have supported since 2017 and we look forward to it every year. Not only do we enjoy being part of the build-up by hosting the pop-up stop, but we love being part of the strong celebration of community – the St Johns team will also be taking part on the day.'

St Johns Shopping Centre is the largest indoor shopping centre in Liverpool and a leading centre in the North West region. Located in the heart of the city since 1969, St Johns is home to over 100 businesses, from local retailers to national brands, and is a hub for fashion, homeware, jewellery, fragrances, and more. Retailers include JD Sports, Matalan, HMV, F.Hinds, and the official LFC Store.

Santa Dash 2021 with the route passing through The Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool City Centre (Credit: Paul Francis Cooper/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

The Route Starts At The Pier Head & Passes Through Liverpool City Centre Including The Royal Albert Dock

The Santa Dash 5K route will pass through the stunning Royal Albert Dock Liverpool. The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 5K route starts from Pier Head Liverpool at 9.30am and finishes outside Liverpool Town Hall, with a grandstand finish line featuring stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow.

The dashing Santas make their way through the City Centre which includes running through the Grade I Listed Royal Albert Dock Liverpool estate. The route was changed in 2018 to include the waterfront attraction after the Churchill Flyover in Liverpool city centre was demolished.

Sean Morrison, Estate Manager of Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, said: 'It’s always an incredible sight to see thousands of Santas dashing through the dock on Santa Dash day. We’re thrilled to be part of such an inclusive, family friendly event during this milestone 20th year.'

From the pioneering spirit of civil engineer Jesse Hartley, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is credited as being a catalyst for regeneration and change in Liverpool’s fortunes in the 1980s and continues to be a symbol of progression to this day. Today, over six million people – from locals to national and international visitors – flock to the dock every year to discover, explore, and experience a mix of culture, food, shopping, and events.

The Santa Dash in 2022 starting at The Pier Head in Liverpool City Centre (Credit: Stratus Imagery/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Who Is Organising The Race?

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. Its extensive portfolio covers various distances across different terrains, all with an ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The BTR event calendar also includes the BTR Tour Of Merseyside, BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon, and BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash event also features the Mini Dash 1K for youngsters aged 12 and under. It starts at approximately 11am in Castle Street, once all Santas in the main Dash have completed the course. The youngsters follow a similar city centre route before crossing the finish line outside Liverpool Town Hall.

Taking about the race, BTR Liverpool Race Director, Alan Rothwell, said: 'This is a real highlight for the City, dashing Santas, and for us as organisers BTR Liverpool. This year we have the added excitement and celebration of the 20th staging of this family festive spectacle which first started in 2004.'

Alan added: 'We are delighted to announce our first partners on-board for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2023 – Alder Hey as official charity partner and Radio City as official media partner, with support from Arriva North West, St Johns Shopping Centre, and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.'

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline running events in Liverpool City Region. The team stage a number of headline events annually, which continue to develop and grow year on year.

This year we have the added excitement and celebration of the 20th staging of this family festive spectacle which first started in 2004.' - Alan Rothwell, BTR Liverpool Race Director.

Established in 2006, BTR Liverpool prides itself on the quality and delivery of its events; its strong links with the running community; and engagement with local charities. Its event portfolio includes the Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon; Liverpool Santa Dash; Mersey Tunnel 10K; Port Sunlight Road Race 10K and 5K; 52-mile Tour Of Merseyside; Wirral 10K; and Run For The 97 5K.

BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell has been part of the running community since he began racing as a teenager, which developed into race organising over 20 years ago. Alan’s own personal achievements include finishing 42 Marathons in a 25-year period – including running the London Marathon 22 times; the New York Marathon six times; as well as the Liverpool and Stockholm Marathons.

The festive medal for Santa Dash 2023 (Credit: BTR/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Taking Part In The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash

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

Entries are open online at the Santa Dash Event Page on the BTR website. Hashtags for the event include: 'BTRRaces', 'LiverpoolSantaDash', and 'SantaDashDay'. You can also watch the 30-second teaser trailer for BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2023.

You can also see the great things that happened at BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2022 which was Sponsored By Park Christmas Savings through a near 15-minute official video.

Other BTR Running Events That Are Happening In 2023

• Sunday the 24th of September: 5K Winter Series – Autumn Leaves.

• Sunday the 15th of October: Wirral 10K.

• Sunday the 5th of November: 5K Winter Series – Bonfire Blast.

• Sunday the 3rd of December: BTR Liverpool Santa Dash (5K / 1K Mini Dash).

• Sunday the 3rd of December: Grinch 5K (now part of Santa Dash).

• Sunday the 31st of December: 5K Winter Series – Winter’s Trail.

Other BTR Running Events That Are Happening In 2024

• Sunday the 17th of March:BTR Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon / 10 Mile Road Race.

• Sunday the 14th of April: BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K.

• Saturday 18th of May: Run For The 97 5K / 1 Mile Fun Run.

• Sunday the 9th of June (TBC): Port Sunlight Road Race (10K / 5K / 1K Fun Run).

• Sunday the 30th of June – Sat 6 July: BTR Tour Of Merseyside (52 miles).