THE festive season has kicked off with a bang and the return of Bournemouth's Christmas Tree Wonderland and Alpine Market. 

Lights slowly turned on throughout the day and market traders eagerly opened their stalls for the first time this year in Bournemouth yesterday, Friday, November 19.

With more than 100 illuminations, the Christmas Tree Wonderland runs from Bournemouth Pier to Lansdowne Roundabout through Beale Place and Horseshoe Common.

The popular spectacle features a 60ft walk-through tree in Lower Gardens which is the centrepiece of the event.

READ MORE: Christmas Tree Wonderland 2021: Everything you need to know

Bournemouth Echo:

Christmas Tree Wonderland 2021. Credit: Richard Crease

The Alpine Market has a wide range of food stalls from Yorkshire pudding wraps to mega-hot chocolates and bratwursts. 

There are also plenty of retail stalls to have a mooch around, you can pick up everything from personalised Christmas decorations to viking drinking horns. 

READ MORE: Every trader at Bournemouth’s Christmas Market 2021

The SKATE outdoor ice rink has also made a return with the Moguls Bar in the Lower Gardens, there is also the ever-popular Alpine Lodge Bar in the Square.

Bournemouth Echo:

Christmas Tree Wonderland 2021. Credit: Richard Crease

Festivities also include a range of entertainment events running for the duration of the Christmas Tree Wonderland and market which finished on Sunday, January 2.