Latest news with #festive
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Christmas day trips with mid-air roast dinner and private meetings with Santa announced - with departures from 11 UK airports
Though it's only July, it's not too early to start considering Christmas celebrations, even for next year. An enchanting Lapland day trip has been announced by TUI UK&I, with dates and flights from 11 regional airports released for the 2026 festive period. The 'Search for Santa' package promises to create an ultimate magical experience in just one day, with travellers back in their own bed on the very same night. Festive travellers will be able to enjoy a sleigh ride with reindeer and meet Father Christmas in his homeland. The trip is priced from £750 per person, and includes a return flight with a roast dinner served on the plane home. Families will enjoy a private meeting with Santa Claus and every child will be treated to a present. The day trip will begin with a flight to Kittila, in Lapland, and passengers will enjoy a full English breakfast on the plane. Once suited and booted in the included attire, Christmas adventurers will head to the Snow Village before enjoying a sleigh ride pulled by Rudolph and his pals through snow-covered forests. Guests can also hop on a husky-led sleigh and be whisked away around the Lappish countryside. Snowmobiling is also included, and passengers will be taught how to ride the fun vehicles before heading out to explore the snowy wonderland. While Lapland locals will be on hand to tell their age old tales and legends about the area, sharing an insight into traditions. Perhaps the most important part of the day, travellers will ride on a skidoo through woodland to meet Father Christmas. His elves will also be on hand to teach families how to say hello in Finnish. At the end of all the festive fun, customers will be taken back to the airport by Santa's elves. On the way home passengers will be able to enjoy a Christmas dinner. Flights to the Lapland adventure will depart from 11 UK airports including Bournemouth, Newcastle, Stansted, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, London Gatwick, East Midlands and Bristol. TUI boss Chris Logan said: 'Our much-loved festive Search for Santa day trips are back, and we're making it easier than ever for families across the UK to experience the magic of Lapland. 'Now with flights from 11 regional airports, families have the ease of flying from their local airport to meet Santa and create unforgettable memories together.'
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Shoppers divided as controversial new Maltesers chocolate lands in Morrisons stores
CHOCOLATE fans are in for a surprise as a brand-new festive Maltesers treat has landed on shelves — in the middle of summer. The Gingerbread Flavour Maltesers Reindeer has been spotted in Morrisons stores across the UK, leaving shoppers both delighted and baffled. One eagle-eyed customer shared the find on Facebook, posting: 'Gingerbread Flavour Malteasers Reindeer spotted online at Morrisons.' The post quickly sparked a flurry of reactions, with chocolate lovers flooding the comments section. One person said: 'mmmmmmm,' clearly excited to see the seasonal sweet. But others weren't impressed, saying the festive snack was far too early for shelves. Another wrote: 'Really? It's July.' A third joked: 'Gets any easier and jesus would be turning is his cave tomb as we put christmas stock out.' And one added: 'They haven't even got the Back to School stuff out yet.' Some simply tagged their mates in disbelief, while others asked if anyone had actually tried them yet. It's not just Morrisons jumping the gun on seasonal stock — other supermarkets have also caused a stir with early releases and unusual chocolate twists. We've outdone ourselves with this one' say Cadbury Ireland as they reveal new limited edition bar 'coming soon Meanwhile, Asda shoppers spotted Cadbury Dairy Milk Mint Bars hitting shelves unexpectedly in early June, drawing mixed reviews. And B&M shocked chocoholics by dropping a Caramilk Mint Twirl, a flavour not yet seen in the big four supermarkets. Even TK Maxx — better known for fashion and homeware — has been selling supermarket-style chocolate and sweets, with shelves packed full of branded snacks, seasonal American imports, and quirky flavours. Retailers are increasingly bringing in seasonal or limited-edition products earlier in the year — hoping to boost excitement and test demand ahead of busy periods like Halloween and Christmas. But while some shoppers welcome the early treats, others say it ruins the excitement when festive favourites appear months in advance. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger. 2
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Pittsburgh's annual Holiday Market moving to new temporary location
Pittsburgh's Holiday Market is moving to a new location this year. Because of construction in Market Square, the Peoples Gas Holiday Market will set up shop for its 14th season in the Cultural District. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said the exact location will be revealed later, but the Holiday Market will continue "to deliver the same festive charm and family-friendly magic that have made it a holiday favorite and a Pittsburgh institution for nearly 15 years." The Holiday Market, which opens the Friday before Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas Eve, transforms Downtown into a festive winter wonderland. Vendors set up shop in decorated chalets, selling handcrafted treasures from around the world. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says the event is a key driver of seasonal foot traffic and economic impact. While more details about this year's market will be announced later, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is accepting vendor applications through Aug. 8. The Market Square project is the cornerstone of a 10-year $600 million revitalization project for Downtown Pittsburgh. The work is slated to be done in April, ahead of Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft. Some estimate the draft will bring at least 300,000 people to Pittsburgh.
The Sun
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Lush brings back iconic Christmas product to shelves FIVE months early
CHRISTMAS has come early as a major retailer kicks off the festive cheer. Lush has stunned shoppers by bringing back one of its most iconic festive favourites five months ahead of schedule. Bottles of the much-loved Snow Fairy body mist have already been spotted on shelves across the UK and beauty lovers can't believe their luck. Normally reserved for the wintry build-up to December, the sweet and sugary scent has landed smack bang in the middle of summer. But there's a twist as this year's version comes with a magical new makeover. Lush has paired the candyfloss-scented Snow Fairy with its fresh, citrusy Super Milk spray. Nicknamed Super Fairy, it's been described by the brand as being like 'sweet and salty popcorn' or 'pineapple on pizza'. The dreamy duo now comes as a body lotion, shower gel and bath bomb, with prices ranging from £6 to £27 depending on the size you pick. If you're not ready for the crossover, the original Snow Fairy scent is also available solo, in everything from glitter body mist to shower powder. You can bag a shimmering Snow Fairy Glitter Mist for £18, a mini version for £9, and even a bubble bar on a stick for £8 to keep the sparkle going right through to Christmas. There's also a crackling shower powder for just £6. Shoppers are raving about the early surprise online, with many stocking up now before it disappears again until late 2025. Primark shoppers race to buy £3.50 Lush dupes that are perfect for burr baskets One customer wrote: 'It's basically summer and Christmas in a bottle – I'm obsessed.' And it's not just Lush that's rolling out the tinsel early. Retailers across the UK are diving head-first into festive mode. Over at The Range, you can already find candy canes, nutcrackers and full blown Christmas trees. Meanwhile, Dunelm is flogging a 'Fabulous Christmas' doormat to welcome in the season, along with Christmas dinner sets and a golden mistletoe wreath. Boots has launched its own dedicated Christmas webpage, urging customers to start ticking off their lists and saving points on their Advantage Cards now. But there may be method to this madness. Many savvy shoppers prefer to shop in advance to help ease the cost of the expensive festive season. Money guru Lynn Beattie, AKA Mrs Mummypenny, says it's a smart move. 'Spreading the cost of Christmas throughout the year is a great way to enjoy the festive season without the stress,' she said. And it seems Brits are listening. Studies show over a third of adults have already started budgeting for Christmas, despite it still being six months away. With retailers pulling out the baubles in June and iconic scents like Snow Fairy flying off shelves, now is the perfect time to stock up and store away. Top tips to save for Christmas Here are Mrs Mummypenny's top tips for saving money at Christmas: 1. Save a little bit every week Placing a small amount into a savings account every week can really add up over time. Many banks offer a round-up function where daily spending is rounded up to the nearest pound, with that amount going to a separate savings pot. 2. Start planning - now If you can identify everything you'd like to do this Christmas, you can work out roughly how much you need to save to cover the entire cost. 3. Get ahead of your bills using your smart meter The screen that comes with your smart meter allows you to see your energy usage, make adjustments and save money. If you have a smart prepayment meter you can top up your credit online or over the phone from the comfort of your own sofa instead of going to the shops. 4. Use loyalty cards and vouchers to pay for Christmas presents Many places offer loyalty schemes such as supermarkets, where you can collect points and vouchers and use them to buy presents. 5. Get cash back on all online purchases Set up an account with the cash back site and go there first to find your chosen retailer. Then click through as normal to your chosen retailer or bill provider, triggering the cookies and getting you the cash back if you make a purchase. 6. Sell your clutter I urge you to spend ten minutes looking around your house and finding ten items that you no longer use or want that you can sell.
