The countdown is on to the 20th anniversary BTR Liverpool Santa Dash as the event's pop-up shop has now opened and will remain so until 30 November ahead of race day on 1 December. A staggering 4,000 Santas have already signed up to take part – with just over four weeks still to go and we have been told that blue Santa suits are already limited.

The brainchild of BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell, the very first Liverpool Santa Dash took place in 2004 and it is thought to be the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run. Last year, an impressive 6,100 Santas took part, the biggest turn-out since 2018 and organisers BTR Liverpool are keen to raise the bar even further.

Head along to the shop (which is located on the lower level of St Johns Shopping Centre near the Matalan bridge and Post Office) where you can opt to sign-up and take everything away with you – run number, Santa suit, medal wristband, and goodie bag. Those who register online also need to collect their Santa suits from the shop.

The 5K starts at Pier Head Liverpool and will take the Santas through Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, and round the city centre. The grandstand finish line at Liverpool Town Hall features stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow. The Mini Dash 1K is for youngsters aged 12 and under who will follow a shorter city centre route and share the finish line with the 5K entrants.

BTR Liverpool's Alan Rothwell commented: “Liverpool Santa Dash is always a very special event for BTR. The spectacle of thousands of Santas – red, blue, and mini – dashing through the city really is an annual festive tradition like no other.

“Please support our Official Charity Partner Claire House Children’s Hospice if you can, either by dashing for them or by making a donation. Walk, jog, run – or just make a real dash of it. Join in with family and friends, sign up with colleagues. Even come on your own, you’ll make Santa friends in no time. It’s festive, it’s fun, it’s for everyone.”

If you'd like to know more, visit the BTR Liverpool website, or enter online now here.

Image: BTR Liverpool