One of my favourite family blogger events over Christmas was the opportunity to attend the VIP Press launch of Winter Wonderland again. We had so much fun at the 2016 launch and 2017 was just as fun.

Winter Wonderland is of course an indoor Christmas event held at Event City and consisting of an amusement park with rides for kids and adults, games, stage shows and food stalls.

One notable change on arrival was the strict security after the Manchester Arena attack, which meant a short queue on entry, but something which is becoming essential at big events. We arrived at 7pm, so we missed the pre-show entertainment but it did mean that we didn’t have to wait around with an impatient 4-year-old who was desperate to see Father Christmas.

With it being press night there was of course celebrities in attendance, including actors from Hollyoaks, Gary Neville, Emile Heskey and Daniel Sturridge. Amber loves Hollyoaks and was ecstatic to meet the guy who plays Prince.

All the favourite rides and attractions from last year was back including Santa’s Grotto, which is still easily the best one we have attended in terms of attention to detail. The Santa was very chatty with Amber and her friend and didn’t rush them. The girls also chose a present from Santa’s workshop, which you can buy a token for outside the Grotto entrance. There was also lots of new attractions and shows, including a Minions one which Amber loved.

The launch was less busy than last year, I know that many blogger friends who were coming from the Midlands were snowed in and couldn’t make it, however the atmosphere was still great and it meant the girls didn’t have to queue for any of the rides and probably enjoyed it more.

*We were invited to the launch by Bill Elms Entertainment.