The much-loved 6ft tall figures, which celebrate the magic of Christmas, will be located at various positions around Southport town centre.

They are being provided by Southport BID which is inviting local families to have fun by completing this year’s Southport Nutcracker Trail.


Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “We hope people enjoy seeing the Nutcrackers this year.


“During the November lockdown we want families to be able to enjoy their exercise by trying to spot all 12 Nutcrackers in a safe and socially distanced way.


“If the current restrictions are lifted in December then the Nutcracker Trail will be a good way of encouraging people to come and enjoy their Christmas shopping and meals out in town.


“We would love to see your selfies with the Nutcrackers, or your photos of them!
“Please share your pictures on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and include the hashtag #southportnutcrackers and we will offer a prize of a £50 Southport Gift Card for the best one while we have an iPad Mini for someone who completes the Southport Nutcracker Trail.”


Local people have taken part in a competition this year to name this year’s 12 Nutcrackers.


You can spot them by taking part in the Southport Nutcracker Trail, which you can download here:


https://bit.ly/2UvdKFF


Write the names of the 12 Nutcracker Kings that you will find located around the town.


When you have got them all, please fill in your details and post it into Santa’s Postbox, which is located outside Wayfarer’s Arcade on Lord Street.


Alternatively you can email your completed trail sheet along with your name and contact details to info@southportbid.com


There will be an iPad Mini for one lucky winner completing the trail.


Hundreds of superb names for our Nutcrackers were suggested by local people, giving judges a very difficult task to narrow them down to just 12!


One of the winning names – Sir Tom – was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, the former British Second World War Army officer who was knighted earlier this year for raising over £30million money for charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Others have strong Southport links such as Sutton, Old Duke, Hesketh and Meols while some, such as Fredrich and Hans, nod to the figures’ German roots.
The winning Nutcracker names for 2020 are:


Peanut
Sutton
Old Duke
Fredrich
Hesketh
Meols
Hans
Sir Tom
Marmaduke
Rufus
Noel
Rutherford


Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “Thank you to everyone who contributed name ideas and for getting involved.


“There were some superb names and it was hard to narrow it down.


“Circumstances have obviously changed, but we hope the Nutcrackers spark some joy and provide some fun for children in a safe way – with families able to complete the trail as part of their outdoor recreation time.”


The Nutcrackers brought real magic to Christmas shopping in Southport town centre last year, with families from across the North West enjoying finding all the figures in between trips to local shops and restaurants.


In German tradition the dolls are symbols of good luck, frightening away malevolent spirits – ideal as the BID continues to help Southport businesses recover from the continuing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and urges people to shop local this Christmas

Nutty mc nut face .

As these nut figures, the same ones that where around Southport centre last year?

Or are they hired or bought every year?