The Meadows shopping centre kicked off festive celebrations by opening a brand-new snow garden.

The pop-up is filled with soft fake snow and is free to shoppers to enjoy until 10th December.

Lucky shoppers who visit the snow garden over the following two Saturday’s will also have the chance to win Christmas treats hidden beneath the snow. Prizes include goodies from Wilko, pantomime tickets up for grabs and all sorts of festive treats.

Charlie Marsden, Marketing Executive for the Meadows told us “Our snow garden offers all the fun of snow without the freezing temperatures and wet clothes.

“We wanted to create something to make Christmas shopping a bit easier, and this is ideal for taking a break from gift hunting and essentials buying, especially with energetic little ones.

“They can make snow angels and if you’re lucky find a treat hidden in the snow too.”

Meadows shopper, Jenny Fletcher commented “It’s lovely to offer something like this for children before Christmas, some of the kids might have never seen snow before.”

Adding to the festivities, The Meadows will launch their online advent calendar on December 1, offering visitors to their website the chance to win an exciting prize or exclusive discount from one of the many retailers in the centre.

A new gift or offer will be featured every day, so shoppers should be sure to check daily to be in for a chance to win.

Store manager Faisal from Muffin Break said, “The snow garden really adds something a little different for our customers to enjoy whilst Christmas shopping rather than a more usual grotto, and the online advent calendar is a great way for us to all offer shopper’s special deals and promotions throughout advent.”

In the build up to Christmas, the Meadows will stay open late every Thursdays until 8pm, for after work shoppers, and will be offering extra festive activities and some giveaways on these evenings too.

On December 7, late night shoppers can enjoy a free silent disco in the mall, and the following Thursday, customers will be able to make their own free personalised Christmas decoration.

In the week leading up to Christmas the centre is open until 8pm every day, just in time for last minute present deliveries.