Picture this: It’s 1996, the Spice Girls are at the top of the charts, the Euros are coming to England, and the question on everyone’s lips is ‘Oasis or Blur?’ It was a peak time for British culture and, in South Yorkshire, a much-loved Doncaster landmark was also getting set to open its doors.
Lakeside Village Outlet Shopping on White Rose Way was unveiled to the public as The Yorkshire Outlet on 15 August 1996 and today, 30 years on, it remains a leading shopping destination for visitors and the local community alike.
This year, the centre is gearing up to celebrate this impressive milestone, marking its 30th birthday with a whole host of activities and entertainment planned for the coming months.
Lakeside Village Through the Years
Celebrating 30 Years, Together
Lakeside Village feature in Eastside Magazine
Our 30th birthday celebrations officially began in March with a special front cover and feature in Eastside Magazine, shining a spotlight on three decades of Lakeside Village. The coverage marked an exciting milestone moment, celebrating our journey, our community, and everything that has made Lakeside Village what it is today, setting the tone for the months of celebrations to follow.
Celebrating 30 Years with a Sweet Easter Trail
In April, we continued our 30th birthday celebrations with the Spot the Swirly Lollipops Trail, a fun Easter activation that invited families to explore Lakeside Village in a whole new way.
Visitors took part in a colourful quest around the centre, searching for our bright and cheerful Swirly Lollipops hidden throughout Lakeside Village. Each lollipop featured a special number, and once all were found, participants added them together to reveal the big anniversary Lakeside Village is celebrating this year. After cracking the answer that Lakeside Village is celebrating its 30th anniversary, participants were entered into a prize draw to win family tickets to Savoy, Doncaster.
Share your Picture
To mark 30 incredible years, we’ve created a floral 30 feature near M&S Outlet. The perfect spot to pause, take a seat and snap a photo as part of our celebrations.
Whether you’re visiting with family, friends or just passing by, we’d love you to capture the moment and be part of our 30th story. Every photo shared helps us celebrate the people, memories and moments that have made the last 30 years so special.
Lakeside Village’s 30th Birthday Party
As part of our 30th birthday celebrations, Lakeside Village hosted a fun-filled birthday party packed with FREE family entertainment, live performances and birthday surprises.
Visitors enjoyed our popular Gold Rush challenge, met Shaun the Sheep, danced along to a favourite 90s music act and enjoyed sweet treats from our roller-skating team.
Alongside the celebrations, families also enjoyed Elvie’s Farm Family Fun, including the crazy golf and fun zone, while children got creative with a giant birthday cake colouring activity.
A highlight of the day was meeting Shaun the Sheep, with families enjoying plenty of opportunities to snap memorable photos with the much-loved character.
The event marked another memorable moment in Lakeside Village’s 30th birthday celebrations.
Celebration Highlights
Take a look back at the highlights from our 30th Birthday Celebration and see how the day unfolded. From family fun and live entertainment to special guests and memorable moments, it was a fantastic day enjoyed by visitors of all ages.
View all pictures in our gallery.
