Christmas Market, Belfast
Soak up the festive atmosphere before treating yourself to a Glühwein, sampling speciality cheeses and maybe getting a bird’s-eye view of the market from the top of a helter-skelter at Belfast City Hall Grounds. To 22 Dec, belfastcity.gov.uk
Gunwharf Quays Christmas Village, Hampshire
This Christmas village in Portsmouth has igloo-inspired seating and an Alpine Lodge Bar. There are two Bavarian curling lanes and a 22m-high Observation Wheel, with spectacular views of the harbour. Entry free, activities charged. To Christmas Eve, gunwharf-quays.com
Folkestone Festive Marketplace, Kent
The Harbour Grotto festive experience has opened at Folkestone Harbour to put a maritime twist on festivities. The Christmas market has stalls by independent makers and adjoins The Goods Yard, an 800-plus-capacity street food venue. Park yourself here to enjoy festive films, snow blizzards, live bands and carols. To Christmas Eve, folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk.
Big Bauble Showcase, Belfast
Fall into a trance as you admire a surfeit of handmade baubles at Craft NI Gallery in the Cathedral Quarter, many of them one-offs, made in porcelain, felt, enamel, textiles and handblown glass. To 30 Dec, visitbelfast.com
Christmas by the Sea, Lancashire
Blackpool twinkles all year around with its illuminations, but at Christmas, things go up a notch with festive rides, light projection shows, light installations, simulated snowfalls and theatre shows. And the ice skating rink is free too. To New Year’s day, visitblackpool.com
East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Marke, Edinburgh
This traditional Christmas market will feature 70 stalls offering bespoke gifts, allowing visitors to do their shopping under the eye of the largest Ferris wheel in Scotland. West Princes Street Gardens, meanwhile, will be putting on a programme of family-friendly events, including live performances. To 6 Jan, edinburgh-christmas.com
Winterfest, Glasgow
Entry is free to this seasonal spectacular in the city centre, with highlights including festive stalls, a silent disco and music from local bands. To 7 Jan, facebook.com/glasgowwinterfest
Zog Trail, Gloucestershire
In the heart of the ancient Forest of Dean, you’ll find Beechenhurst, with a children’s playground, cafe and a sculpture trail. New for this year is its Zog Trail. Download a free app and go on an adventure to collect golden stars on a circuit inspired by the Julia Donaldson book. From now, visitdeanwye.co.uk
![The Box, Plymouth Image from jo.clarke@plymouth.gov.uk](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180311213.jpg?w=760)
The Box, Devon
Not far from Plymouth city centre, this award-winning museum is the perfect place to stroll around on a wintry day. There are works of art, thousands of historical specimens, such as a full-size replica woolly mammoth, and a collection of archive film and photography. New exhibition Dutch Flowers from the National Gallery is on now until 7 January. theboxplymouth.com
Manchester Art Fair, Greater Manchester
Immerse yourself in contemporary art at Manchester Central this weekend, with various galleries and independent artists showcasing their best. Expect artist talks, panel discussions, performances and installations. You could even pick up a painting or sculpture as Christmas presents. The event is ticketed, but iWeekend readers can enjoy complimentary tickets using the eventbrite booking link below. Sat-Sun, manchesterartfair.co.uk, eventbrite.co.uk/e/manchester-art-fair-2023-tickets-611140797577?discount=iweekend
‘Nectary’ at The Hepworth, West Yorkshire
This weekend, award-winning art gallery The Hepworth Wakefield hosts a free garden exhibition of six huge glowing flowers handcrafted from recycled materials and created by artist Alison Smith and scientist Dr Chris Hassall. Sat-Sun, hepworthwakefield.org
Arctic exhibition, Hampshire
Inside the 30s-built Southampton City Art Gallery is a collection of 5,000 works spanning eight centuries by artists such as Turner, Renoir and Monet as well as contemporary pieces by Lucian Freud. New for winter is Arctic Mirage, a glacier-themed exhibition by Southampton-based artist Julian Grater. To 3 Feb, southamptoncityartgallery.com
Milford Winterfront Nutcracker Trail, Pembrokeshire
Milford Waterfront will be transformed into a hub of yuletide entertainment with Christmas crafts, reindeers on stilts and elf meet-and-greets. Enjoy a live line-up of the Milford Haven Town Band, The Operatic Society and the Gelliswick Choir and follow the Nutcracker Trail for your chance to win a prize. Trail runs from 22 Nov-4 Jan, entertainment every Sat from 21 Nov, milfordwaterfront.co.uk
![Pembrokeshire?s Milford Waterfront Image from Jo Gaukrodger](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180157114.jpg?w=760)
River of Light Lantern Parade, Caerphilly
Get down to a lantern-making workshop to show off at the parade through Caerphilly Town Centre, which will also include bagpipes, drums and a spectacular fireworks’ display above Caerphilly Castle. Arrive early to check out the Winter Food and Craft Fair. Workshops 8-19 & 25-26 Nov, parade 2 Dec, visitcaerphilly.com
Georgian Weekend, Co Armagh
Armagh’s Georgian heritage will be on full display during this special weekend. Listen to musicians roaming the streets, browse the artisan market and take in the lights. There are ticketed events, such as guided walks, but much is entirely free. 23-26 Nov, visitarmagh.com
Pontefract Castle Light Up, West Yorkshire
Pontefract Castle is putting on two days of festive cheer with a new 125m light installation entitled For Peace by artists sedemminut. Drinks will be served from the tipi bar, there is street food and live music performances, free ice-carving sculpture workshops and a carousel. 24-25 Nov, experiencewakefield.co.uk
Swansea Christmas Market, South Wales
Two streets in Swansea will be transformed into a Christmas market with festive chalets selling crafts and street food vendors. Head to the Caroller’s Cabin for festive entertainment such as school choirs and live music or visit Santa’s grotto and capture a family photo with the big man. 24 Nov-20 Dec, visitswanseabay.com
![Swansea Christmas Market - Wales - UK- November 2018 Image from Beth Mendleton <Beth.Mendleton@workingword.co.uk](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180157790.jpg?w=760)
Richmond Winter Wonderland, London
Expect elf workshops, a selfie sleigh and North Pole post box at this festive riverside pop-up in Richmond, south-west London. There is a market with 30 festive stalls and on 9 December, join Buddy the Elf to launch the Christmas Family Reindeer Trail. Download a map, find the reindeer, crack the code and win a festive treat. Winter Wonderland 25-26 Nov, berichmond.london/christmas
Elf street party, Dorset
If this sounds like a rowdy affair, it is – thousands of mischievous elves will take over Weymouth town centre. Expect live music, a grotto, food stalls and elf-based activities including workshops and North Pole letter-writing. Weymouth’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm. 25 Nov, visit-dorset.com
Festive Sundays, Manchester
Manchester is celebrating Christmas with a series of Festive Sundays. Each week street performances, parades including a giant snow globe, Arctic fox puppet, walking trees and living lampposts will take to the streets. Sundays from 26 Nov-17 Dec, visitmanchester.com
Autumn tree walk, East Sussex
Enjoy a free tree-themed guided walk through Peasmarsh, near Rye. Explore the High Weald, a medieval wooded landscape of rolling hills and ancient routeways, and learn how to identify trees by their leaves and bark. 28 Nov, eventbrite.co.uk
The Worcester Victorian Fayre, Worcestershire
This fun-filled Victorian-themed Christmas event combines street entertainment with more than 200 stalls across the city of Worcester. Enjoy traditional fairground rides, stilt walkers and live pop-up performances with Victorian characters roaming the streets. 30 Nov-3 Dec, visitworcestershire.org
![WORCESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Visitors and shoppers enjoy the carousel during the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre on November 26, 2015 in Worcester, England. Now in its 23rd year the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre starts off the festive season with market stalls, festive foods and entertainment. The celebrations are started each year by the The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight and choristers from The Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir. The fayre takes place between 26th-29th November 2015. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180292300.jpg?w=760)
Christmas Reindeer Trail, Devon
Download a free map and take a guided tour around Plymouth in search of the reindeers’ favourite locations. Collect stamps and return the map to the Tourist Office for a special treat. Today, you can also catch the Christmas lights switch-on at The Barbican with an afternoon filled with music and magic, a dog show and a sighting of Santa arriving by lifeboat. Throughout Dec, visitplymouth.co.uk
Mousehole Christmas Lights, Cornwall
From early December until early January, the historic harbour of Mousehole will be lit up with twinkling lights in the annual Christmas by the Sea experience. Traditional pubs and cute cafés edge the waterfront and live singing events will take place between 11 and 21 December, with local musicians performing. Dec-Jan, mouseholelights.org.uk
The Whitby Krampus run, North Yorkshire
Celebrate ancient European folklore by joining the Krampus Run when it returns to Whitby. The mythical horned creature arrives in the coastal town to punish the wicked, alongside a free parade from 3.30pm. Expect fire dancers, drummers and live music. 2-3 Dec, discoveryorkshirecoast.com
Christmas at the McManus Museum & Gallery, Dundee
Dundee’s museum and art gallery is playing host to its first Christmas market, including free family craft activities and storytelling. 2 Dec, dundeecity.gov.uk
Oswestry Christmas Live, Shropshire
Top off a day exploring Oswestry by visiting this festive market. Expect fairground rides, a curling alley, an ice rink, delicious street food and local late-night shopping as well as live music by local bands. 2 Dec, visitshropshire.co.uk
Deal Castle Christmas market, Kent
The atmospheric grounds of Deal Castle in Kent will host a Christmas market, with street foods, artisan gifts, local produce and a festive-themed bar. 1-3 Dec, whitecliffscountry.org.uk
The Art of Recycling, North Yorkshire
The immersive installation Grue: A Magical World in Scarborough is built by the community out of recycled materials and designed by artist Steve Wintercroft. This year, Grue can be reached through a portal in Scarborough Library. 2-23 Dec, hello-arcade.com/grue-2023
![Thursday 2nd December 2021 Picture Credit Charlotte Graham Picture Shows Magical sustainable Christmas experience opening in Scarborough Grue at the Old Parcel Office, from Saturday 4 December 2021 Could a new visitor experience opening this Saturday in Scarborough be the most sustainable Christmas adventure in the country? Grue is a brand new installation at the Old Parcels Office at Scarborough Station and is created entirely out of recycled cardboard and repurposed materials. Visitors to the attraction will explore four themed rooms ??? Town, Sky, Sea and Forest ??? which are all created using unpainted cardboard to stunning effect. The environmentally-friendly attraction comes from the creative mind of Steve Wintercroft, a Scarborough-based artist who has worked with Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin, Bjork and Game of Thrones to name a few, but features the handiwork of over 300 people, including pupils from St Augustine???s School, Scarborough Sixth Form, local Guide groups and members of the local community of all ages. Its name, Grue, is taken from the historic word for snow or shiver. ???The cardboard architecture that has gone into creating these four environments is quite incredible, and to ensure that the raw materials remain visible, the only painting is done with light ??? making this a remarkable twilight experience for local people,??? comments Rach Drew, co-director of Arcade, which has produced Grue. The team has been working with the local community to create individual parts of the installation throughout November, with open crafting days for the local community where people could come along for an hour or a day to create items to feature in the experience. ???Steve is a world-class artist in his own right, and has been the driving creative force for Grue, whilst demonstrating to people just how much you can do with recycled materials,??? adds Rach. Creating environmentally-conscious art has long been a guiding principle for artist Steve, who trained as a cabinet maker and then became a surfboard shaper. From his home and studio in Scarborough, he now produces digital templates for masks that can be made from waste card anywhere in the world. ???I would hope that everyone who sees this experience in the coming weeks looks a little differently to what is normally discarded on Christmas Day ??? the wrapping paper and packaging can have another life even before they make it into the recycling bin with a little creativity,??? says Steve Wintercroft. Grue is located in the Old Parcels Office Artspace, located in a grade II listed building on Scarborough Station. Sally Gorham, Chair of the Old Parcels Office, who commissioned the installation, commented, ???This project really fulfils our aim of bringing high quality contemporary art to Scarborough and not only giving local artists and performers a platform to show their work, but making it accessible to everyone, regardless of background or income.??? Indeed, Grue is being run on a ???pay as you feel??? basis, with a suggested donation of ??3 per person. It is anticipated that visits will take around 15-20 minutes. Visitors are offered timeslots with up to six people per slot to ensure distancing is possible. It will be open on three weekends in December leading up to Christmas, 3pm - 7pm and Thursdays from 4pm throughout December, plus Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 December. Grue by Wintercroft is produced by ARCADE, commissioned by the Old Parcels Office Arts Centre Scarborough, funded by Yorkshire Coast BID and supported by Kickstarter backers and Invisible Dust. For more information, or to book tickets, please visit https://www.hello-arcade.com/grue Notes to editors ARCADE is a charitable community producing company based in Scarborough, with a mission to make incredible cultural experiences happen with artists and communities; support our community to develop creativity and ideas; collaborate to make community-led change happen using the arts - through creative projects, workshops, shows, festivals and events. ENDS For further media information or photographs, please contact: Jay Commins Pyper York Limited Tel: 01904 500698 Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180146302.jpg?w=760)
Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market, Warwickshire
Find a traditional funfair with an original Victorian-era carousel and stilt performers. The market offers 300-plus stalls selling seasonal treats and stocking fillers with traders dressed in Victorian clothes. 7-10 Dec, stratford.gov.uk/markets
Christmas Tree Festival, North Wales
Carols from the choirs of St Mary’s Church will be sung under the lights of Christmas trees, which have been decorated with individually designed themes by local businesses and schools from across the community. 7 Dec Conwy, 15 Dec Llandudno, stdavidshospice.org.uk
Carols at Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire
Get your traditional Christmas carol fix with the Cathedral’s “Carols on the Hour” Event. Enjoy 30 minutes of carols every hour, on the hour, from 11am-3.30pm. 9 Dec, gloucestercathedral.org.uk
Bowhouse Market Weekend, Fife
Taste Scottish artisan food and drink from award winning cheeses to homemade sausage rolls in the Market Hall at Bowhouse. Buy Christmas treats and homeware and jewellery gifts. Try wreath-making and festive craft workshops and enjoy cooking demos while a DJ spins festive tunes. 9-10 Dec, bowhousefife.com
Meet the reindeers, Kent
Ever wanted to meet a real-life Rudolph or Blitzen? You now have your chance in Dover Market Square. Meet residents of the Bethersden Reindeer Centre, chat with handlers and even feed the magical animals. 9 Dec, whitecliffscountry.org.uk
Whiskey Distillery Christmas market, North Wales
Nothing will warm you up like a Christmas market in Aber Falls, the first whisky distillery in North Wales with more than 100 years of history. Located on the foothills of Snowdonia, in the village of Abergwyngregyn, this festive market will sell local produce and Christmassy treats including whisky-based drinks. 9 Dec, aberfallsdistillery.com
![EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Stallholders prepare for Christmas as Borough Market in London announces that it will be trading every day until Christmas Eve and starting this Thursday, will be offering late night shopping - staying open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. PA Photo. Issue date: Wednesday December 2, 2020. As well as having special???measures in place???to make shopping at the Market as safe and stress-free as possible, Borough Market Online has extended its delivery and collection service to those within a 10-mile radius, offering either a click and collect option or a doorstep delivery. For customers based further afield, there is now also a carbon neutral postal delivery service - Borough by Post. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SEI_180285407.jpg?w=760)
An Evening of Cheese, London
Dive into a gooey brie at Borough Market. Gather expert advice on putting together the perfect festive cheese board at this free-to-enter annual event and take home cheeses from across the world. 13 Dec, boroughmarket.org.uk
Miracle on Leake Street, London
Enjoy the celebrations inside London’s longest graffiti tunnel, located in Waterloo, including free graffiti workshops, wreath-making workshops, face-painting and a Christmas craft market. Plus there’s a cabaret performance, a Santa DJ set anda screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Donations go to Waterloo Foodbank. 15 Dec, leakestreetarches.london
Cambs Youth Panel Christmas Fair, Cambridgeshire
Spreading festive joy in Cambridge is this fair with Christmas films by Enchanted Cinema, musical performances, crafts workshops and a Santa’s Grotto. Fill up on food and drinks from Cambridge’s best food trucks such as wood-fired pizza from Pizza Mondo. 17 Dec, eventbrite.co.uk
Darts Farm Christmas tasting weekend, Devon
Taste food by local artisans from Salcombe Dairy to Sharpham Cheese as well as honey products from the farm. There is also an assault course and play area to occupy the children. 18-19 Dec, dartsfarm.co.uk
Peter Pan Cup, London
If you’re in the Hyde Park area on Christmas Day, make a new tradition by cheering on one of London’s oldest (and most fun) Christmas traditions. The Peter Pan Cup has taken place on Christmas mornings since 1864. You need to be a member of the Serpentine Swimming Club to swim the 100-yard race, starting at 9am, so wrap up and cheer loudly from the river bank. Christmas Day, serpentineswimmingclub.com/our-special-races