The Frankfurt Christmas Market arrived last week, Christmas in Cathedral Square is coming next week, so we think it’s safe to say that the festive period has begun in Birmingham. Nothing confirms more than the annual Christmas trail taking over the city centre today (November 8), which is based on the animated short, The Snowman and the Snowdog.
As the sequel to the beloved Raymond Briggs’ children’s Christmas classic, The Snowman and the Snowdog tells the tale of a young boy who creates a dog out of snow, which is then brought to life. A Christmas miracle some might say. Inspired by that Christmassy feeling, Snowdogs Discover Birmingham sees ten festive sculptures pop up around the city centre.
Each Snowdog sculpture has a unique name and design – like the golden Candy Cane in the Great Western Arcade – and you’ll find one anywhere from Selfridges to Centenary Square and the Christmas Market. Other locations include Cathedral Square, Corporation Street, Piccadilly Arcade and more.
Families that visit each Snowdog are also in with a chance of winning a £100 voucher to dine in the city centre. There are 10 hidden letters – one for each sculpture – which spell out a word that can be submitted here. If you share your snaps of this free family trail on Instagram, use the hashtag #SnowdogsBrum, plus follow and tag @shoppinginbham, to have the chance of winning a £50 shopping voucher.
Created by Wild in Art – the team behind previous years’ trials like Penguin Parade and Walking with the Snowman – a special Christmas in Birmingham map shows all the Snowdog locations; along with all of the Christmas attractions in Brum this year. You can pick one up from most city centre stores and coffee shops, as well as the Library of Birmingham and the Bullring.
Other Christmas attractions featured on the map, include Ice Skate and Big Wheel, Jewellery Quarter Christmas Window Trail and Christmas shopping highlights like the new M&S and the Mailbox. It also highlights some of the best bars, restaurants and coffee shops in the city centre, as well as places where you catch some Christmas shows.
Snowdogs Discover Birmingham is produced in partnership with Central BID Birmingham and Penguin Ventures, along with Colmore BID, Southside BID, Westside BID and Frankfurt Christmas Market. The Christmas arts trail hopes to help raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. You have until January 4, 2024, to spot all 10 Snowdogs.
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