PADDINGTON MOVIE RELEASE & FESTIVE EVENTS SET FOR NOVEMBER…

Fireman Sam meets fans at Manor Walks in Northumberland

November sees towns and cities across the UK kick-start their festive shopping, marketing and entertainment campaigns.  Family-friendly children’s characters often factor into this festive line-up.  As towns across the UK gear up up for Christmas, Rainbow Productions is working with partners including shopping centres, BID organisations and town centre managers to deliver interactive, fun guest appearances, character story-telling sessions and mini shows featuring live appearances from favourites such as Fireman Sam, Postman Pat and the Octonauts.

The Madagascar Penguins Tour also continues into November, with Rainbow Productions working with Twentieth Century Fox Theatrical Marketing to manage the personal appearances of Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico at cinemas and shopping centres across the UK.

This month will also see the much-anticipated UK movie release, on November 28, of Paddington.  Ahead of his film premiere, Paddington Bear has visited Paddington train station on October 29, when Heathrow Express announced support of the forthcoming film. During November, appearances in Paddington’s diary also include a visit to Falkirk, Wheelgate Park leisure attraction, Newlands Shopping Centre and two consecutive dates at the Museum of London.

October also proved a busy month of character events, including experiential half term activity with the Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom brand, during live events at intu shopping centres.

After a recent visit by Fireman Sam to Manor Walks retail and leisure destination in Northumberland [pictured], the general manager, Bruno Coppola, commented:

“Set in the heart of the community we are always keen to reward our visitors with free and exciting events.  The arrival of Fireman Sam in Cramlington was an extremely popular event which saw footfall increase 18% year-on-year.  His meet and greet session were a great hit with families and certainly created a great atmosphere within the centre”.

Fireman Sam is also set to visit a couple of Fireworks Displays in 2014: Brockwell Park on November 5 and Battersea Park on November 8.

Looking ahead to other character appearances taking place in November 2014, below is a selection of appearances and activities scheduled to take place.  Please note that these dates and venues are subject to change.

Nov 1: Flair Leisure Products has arranged for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mikey and Donnie to visit the Peter Jones store in Sloane Square, while Leo and Raph head to John Lewis on Oxford Street.

Nov 1: Ben 10 alien, Shocksquatch, is going to Hamley’s in Manchester; Feedback, another Ben 10 alien, heads to the same store the following day.

Nov 1: Monk’s Cross Shopping Park in York will be hosting a Timmy narration event for their shoppers.

Nov 2: Peppa Pig is going to Caldicot Castle and Country Park in Wales.

Nov 5: Fireman Sam will be going to the Fireworks event in Brockwell Park, south London.

Nov 6: A Ben and Holly Narration event will take place at Centrale in Croydon.

Nov 8: Another fireworks event for Fireman Sam, when he attends Battersea Park.

Nov 8: The Snowman and The Snowdog will see shoppers at intu Trafford Centre in Manchester.

Nov 8: The Fat Controller is visiting Hamley’s in Cardiff, on behalf of HIT Entertainment.

Nov 8: Action for Children has arranged for the Very Hungry Caterpillar to go to Bideford Bay Children’s Centre.

Nov 8: Batman: The Brave and The Bold is going to Smyth’s Toys in Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin on behalf of the brand owner.

Nov 12: Dennis the Menace and Gnasher return to St Pancras train station, continuing the tie-in activity with HS1.

Nov 13: Romford Market Place has organised for Little Charley Bear to perform his mini show.

Nov 13: Mike the Knight will be visiting Castle Mall in Norwich.

Nov 13: Ben & Holly will be making appearances in St James Square in Grimsby.

Nov 13: Sid from Ice Age will be going to Birchwood shopping centre in Warrington.

Nov 14: Medway Council has organised for Angry Birds’ Red Bird to attend the Chatham Christmas Lights Event.

Nov 14: Captain Barnacles and Kwazii will be performing an Octonauts mini show at Golden Square in Warrington.

Nov 15: Peppa Pig and a story-telling narrator are heading to the St Nicholas Centre in Sutton.

Nov 15: Mikey and Donnie from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are heading to Falkirk Towns organised event taking place in Grangemouth & Bo’Ness.

Nov 15: Ben and Holly will be taking part in a narration event at The Grafton Shopping Centre in Cambridge.

Nov 15: Postman Pat heads to The Mall in Camberley.

Nov 15: Yate Shopping Centre in Bristol has arranged for separate personal appearances today by Pingu and by Postman Pat.

Nov 16: Peppa Pig is joined by Mummy Pig for a narration event taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Nov 16: Falkirk Town Centre will be the venue today for personal appearances by Paddington Bear.

Nov 19: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has arranged for Noddy to make appearances at an event in this south Yorkshire town.

Nov 20: Frogmoor in High Wycombe will be hosting personal appearances today by Ice Age characters, Sid and Scrat.

Nov 21: SpongeBob SquarePants will be present during the Gillingham Christmas Lights festivities.

Nov 22: Scooby-Doo will be visiting the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre in Cheltenham.

Nov 22: Postman Pat is set to deliver fun today at the Riverside shopping centre in Evesham.

Nov 22: Thomas and The Fat Controller head to an event taking place in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

Nov 22: Postman Pat will be joined by Ben Taylor during an Ashford Borough Council event.

Nov 22: Paddington Bear is going to Wheelgate Park in Mansfield.

Nov 22: Strood in Kent is the location for appearances by Captain Barnacles from the Octonauts.

Nov 23: Peppa Pig will be present at an event taking place in Huntingdon’s Market Square in Cambridgeshire.

Nov 23: A Fireman Sam mini show will be taking place today at The Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes.

Nov 26: A mini show including live appearances from Postman Pat and Ben Taylor takes place at Broadgate Shopping Centre in Coventry.

Nov 26: Market Square in Wolverhampton will see personal appearances by Ben and Holly from Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.

Nov 27: Paddington Bear is going to Newlands Shopping Centre in Kettering.

Nov 28: Rocket Licensing has arranged for Q Pootle 5 to visit the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Nov 28: Buddy from Dinosaur Train heads to Rainham in Kent for the Christmas Lights event.

Nov 29: Brent Cross Shopping Centre is hosting appearances by Ben 10 alien, Shocksquatch.

Nov 29: Turtle Power in Denny and Stenhousemuir when Mikey and Donnie descend on the town for festive guest appearances!

Nov 29: Thomas and The Fat Controller are going to an event organised by St. Helens Council.

Nov 29 & 30: Paddington Bear heads to the Museum of London.

Nov 30: Ben 10 alien, Humungousaur, will be visiting Brent Cross Shopping Centre.