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(1).jpg "Exbury Gardens Christmas")
Christmas celebrations, winter light trails, and festive markets – there’s so much to enjoy in Hampshire during the most wonderful time of the year. Here are our top picks of what’s happening in Hampshire this December.
Christmas at Exbury Gardens
Saturday 30 November – Sunday 1 December and Saturday 7 December – Sunday 8 December
For the last day in November, and into the first two weekends in December, Exbury Gardens will be fully festive with the chance for visitors to ride the festive express when the steam train at Exbury Gardens is transformed into a special Christmas express train transporting visitors to see Father Christmas.
The Exbury Christmas Fair will be held on the same dates with seasonal food and drink, local gifts and crafts, carol singing and music.
Southampton Christmas Market
Friday 15 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Eat, drink, and be merry at the Southampton Christmas Market. Browse the alpine chalet stalls, hop on a ride, take in the view from the UK’s tallest Ferris wheel, visit Santa’s Workshop, and don’t miss the light projection show illuminating the historic Bargate every evening.
An Enchanted Christmas at Hinton Ampner
Saturday 16 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Step into an Enchanted Christmas at Hinton Ampner as the gorgeous Georgian house is decorated with bright Christmas colours, sparkling lights and charming festive scenes from the Snow Queen’s throne in her icy entrance hall to a woodland ball with swirling Northern Lights. There will be fairytale castles and gingerbread houses, and in the North Pole Workshop giggling elves tap away with their tools to make Christmas toys and games. Outside, don’t miss the pop-up sweetshop, family activities, hidden elves, and festive games.
Wonderland Christmas at The Vyne
Wednesday 20 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Dive into a divine rabbit hole of festive cheer at The Vyne with Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass themed displays and activities.
In the gardens, look out for the Queen of Hearts' army on the north lawn and in the house sparkling trees illuminate a giant chess board. There’s also a Christmas trail for children with nonsensical Alice-themed challenges to complete in exchange for a prize.
White's Eco Light Festival at Gilbert White's House and Gardens
Thursday 21 November – Saturday 21 December
New for 2024, White’s Eco Light Festival at Gilbert White's House is a new light trail experience about wildlife and the natural world using renewable energy sources, solar power and low-level lighting with environmental consciousness at its core, remembering Gilbert White and his internationally important legacy to ecology.
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Friday 22 November – Sunday 22 December
Nowhere spreads Christmas cheer quite like Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market with its wooden chalets twinkling with their festive wares and warms scents of mulled wine filling the air.
Skate at Westquay, Southampton
Friday 22 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Skate at Westquay in Southampton returns throughout December for its annual skating experience beneath the backdrop of the city’s medieval walls.
The perfect place for a fun day out with friends and family, there are also plenty of shops and restaurants at Westquay to make for a full festive day out.
Portsmouth Christmas Market
Friday 22 November – Monday 30 December
Throughout December, the Portsmouth Christmas Market will fill Commercial Road with cheerful stalls selling Christmas gifts and treats, and festive food and drink. Pick up some gifts to fill the Christmas stockings and refuel with German sausages and glühwein.
Portsmouth On Ice
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
The ice-popular Portsmouth on Ice will transform the city’s Guildhall Square into a winter wonderland throughout December. This firm festive favourite is a great place for a family slide outside, with push-along penguins to help the little ones find their skating feet.
The Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure at West Green House Garden
Saturday 23 November – Sunday 29 December
North Hampshire’s stunning West Green House is known as the Opera Garden and its Christmas Illuminated Garden Adventure has equal theatrical flair with spectacles including a ten-acre wonderland of gigantic shimmering flowers, glowing fairies, a forest of illuminated field flowers, enormous lit waterlilies floating on the lake, and bridges turned in tunnels of lights.
A Christmas Wish at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Join Santa's elves on a festive adventure at Fort Nelson. A Christmas Wish will take visitors on a magical journey to visit 12 specially themed installations around the Victorian fort – and admission is free.
Younger visitors can train to be an elf and get hands-on with games and workshop tasks like sorting presents, preparing reindeer food, plus lots of other magical activities.
A Nutcracker Christmas at Mottisfont
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Enter the magical world of theatre this Christmas, as Mottisfont unveils the Nutcracker. Collect your ticket then follow the story through rooms filled with sparkling trees, music and special light effects. Snowflakes swirl in a frosty wonderland, sugarplum fairies twirl in the Land of Sweets, and there’s a thrilling duel scene between the Prince and the Mouse King. Outside, the adventure continues, on The Nutcracker family adventure trail.
Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Thursday 28 November 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025
Returning for a third year, a new resplendent rendition of Light Up at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens will again add a new depth of winter colour to the beautiful gardens near Romsey.
A breathtaking array of glittering installations will lead visitors around the gardens on this magical trail with a Christmas Wonderland theme featuring mesmerising fire jugglers, breathtaking aerial artists, and larger-than-life characters.
Glow Marwell at Marwell Zoo
Friday 29 November – Tuesday 31 December
Glow Marwell returns for another incredible illumination experience to round off 2024 in glimmering gorgeousness.
Synonymous with Marwell’s conservational core, experience the natural wonders of fire, earth, air and water: dive under the sea with jellyfish in a new ocean display, drift amongst neon clouds in the new Sky Zone, stroll in the snow beside the glowing ancient woodland, and tuck into toasted marshmallows at the firepits.
Steam Illuminations at the Watercress Line
Friday 29 November 2024 – Saturday 4 January 2025
Neon nostalgic steam trains? See the locomotives of the Watercress Line as you’ve never seen them before at the Steam Illuminations when the traditional trains get a modern makeover and are adorned with LED lights inside and out.
With train-tertainment including the Christmas Chart Crackers DJ mix up and New Year Pop Anthems, interactive LED wrist bands, and onboard karaoke, this is one unmissable festive light party!
Santa's Toymaker’s Workshop at Spinnaker Tower
Saturday 30 November – Tuesday 24 December
For the highest Father Christmas experience in the land, head to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth where the tower will be transformed into a Christmas workshop for Santa’s elves.
Children can help make their own cuddly toy before visiting Santa in his grotto before completing the Christmas trail around the tower.
Christmas at Milestones
Saturday 30 November – Monday 23 December
In the run up to Christmas, the period streets of Milestones Museum in Basingstoke will be decorated for the season, and children can help Father Christmas find his lost reindeer on the special Reindeer Spotter trail around the museum.
The popular Milestones Christmas Market will be on from 30 November to 1 December featuring over 50 stalls selling festive treats and gifts from local and independent sellers along the museum’s immersive, historic streets.
There’s also the chance to meet Father Christmas at Milestones on selected dates from 30 November to 24 December.
Owl's Winter Woodland Trail at Staunton Country Park
Saturday 30 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
A new winter trail is flying into Staunton Country Park this December, sure to delight young visitors who are tasked with helping to find his friends for a winter woodland celebration.
Mrs Claus's Reindeer Round Up Trail at Lepe Country Park
Saturday 30 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Join Mrs Claus at Lepe Country Park in her search for her nine mischievous reindeer. Children can enjoy the enchanting story in the trail guide and use the puzzles to find the hidden reindeers around the Country Park, finishing with a festive photo op in Mrs Claus’ spectacular sleigh.
A Festive Forest Adventure! At Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Saturday 30 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
It's feeling festive in the forest at Queen Elizabeth Country Park this winter with the new Christmas trail inviting children to solve clues to work out which gifts the woodland animals are giving to each other.
Christmas Cinema Nights at The Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Sunday 1 December, Sunday 8 December, Sunday 15 December, and Sunday 22 December
Catch a yuletide movie with cocktails at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery’s Christmas Cinema Nights or shake things up at a Christmas Cocktail Masterclass on Friday 20 December – Saturday 21 December.
Yuletide at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Sunday 1 December 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Celebrate Christmas through the ages onboard the famous ships of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard as they deck the hulls for the festive season.
Time walk through Christmas past on board historic vessels like the legendary warship HMS Warrior, and visit Henry VIII's Christmas Royal Tudor court at the Mary Rose Museum.
Elf the Musical at Mayflower Theatre
Tuesday 3 December – Saturday 7 December
Don't Be a Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins, head down to Mayflower Theatre Southampton for a spectacular stage show of Elf. The story is enhanced with amazing film backdrops on a huge LED screen. It also has Santa's flying sleigh, an audience snowball fight, indoor snowstorm, a giant candy cane journey from the North Pole, and aerial cirque stars.
Magical Woodland Bear Adventure at Royal Victoria Country Park
Wednesday 4 December – Thursday 12 December
Join Benny the Bear at the Royal Victoria Country Park for a delightful event that promises to enchant visitors of all ages. Follow the heart-warming tale of a bear who becomes a Christmas elf, set in a magical woodland scene.
A Celebration of Christmas at Paultons Park
Friday 6 December – Monday 23 December
Paultons Park is transformed into a winter wonderland every December with decorations and illuminations lighting up Peppa Pig World and Tornado Springs and the Marvellous Musical Christmas Tree putting on its own light show every 15 minutes.
Father Christmas will be the star of the Paulton’s festive performance with plenty of seasonal singing, dancing, and fun in Santa's Christmas Wish Show! Also featuring Billy and Belinda the elves, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Reindeer. Visitors can also book an exclusive meet and greet with Santa as an add-on experience.
Enlightened Staunton
Friday 6 December – Tuesday 24 December
Returning to Staunton Farm in Havant from 6 December, Enlightened is a magical outdoor light trail with illuminated installations and interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy.
Expect twinkling tunnels, enchanted woodlands, and immersive lights, all accompanied by ambient music.
Owls By Moonlight at Christmas at The Hawk Conservancy Trust
Christmas Carols and Owls at Hawk Conservancy Trust
Saturday 7 December – Sunday 8 December
Sunday 15 December – Tuesday 17 December
Sing along with Christmas carols under the night sky accompanied by owls flying in the moonlight at Hawk Conservancy Trust this December with two special events: Owls By Moonlight on 7 and 8 December and Christmas Carols and Owls from 15 to 17 December.
BattleZone: The Great Grinchmas Heist with New Forest Activities
Saturday 7 December – Sunday 8 December
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December
Saturday 21 December
Take part in the Great Grinchmas Heist with New Forest Activities on selected dates in December. In this festive BattleZone! holiday clash, participants must decide whether to side with Santa's Elves to save Christmas or join the Grinch's Goons and keep the loot.
Midwinter's Magical Quest at Butser Ancient Farm
Saturday 7 December – Sunday 8 December
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December
Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 December
Embark on a Midwinter's Magical Quest at Butser Ancient Farm and discover ancient winter traditions on selected dates in December.
This heart-warming adventure through time will celebrate the rich heritage of winter customs, history and folklore with ancient buildings brimming with festive crafts and activities and enchanting winter tales.
Cosmic Christmas at Winchester Science Centre
Saturday 14 December – Monday 23 December
Always guaranteed to be a blast, Santa will be back at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium this December with the return of Cosmic Christmas.
The experience includes an immersive festive space adventure with live science, magical effects, and a Planetarium show, followed by a meet and greet with Santa himself.
Festive Fun at Beaulieu
Saturday 14 December – Sunday 15 December
Have some Festive Fun at Beaulieu as the Palace House is spruced in seasonal decorations and catch Father Christmas driving around the attraction in a car from the museum.
Search more events in Hampshire
Where to see Father Christmas in Hampshire
Winter illuminations in Hampshire
Fancy a December break? Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
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