Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Unwrap Gloucestershire this Christmas
After two years of pandemic-related “famine”, Gloucestershire parents and carers are spoilt for choice this year with a wealth of Christmas activities open to them. A wide range of venues across the county celebrate the festive season include Christmas light trails, Santa’s grottoes, markets, and high street illuminations.
To kick off the festive season, Gloucester Steampunk Winter Revels are completely free and, light up the historic heart of Gloucester on Westgate Street between Sat 19 Nov and Sun 20 Nov. Running from 10am to 5pm, it includes live music, more than 40 market traders, and fun activities for all ages.
Santa’s elves are working hard to build an illuminated trail at Westonbirt Arboretum decorating the trees with twinkly lights as part of the arboretum’s Enchanted Christmas Experience. The trail and experience run from Fri 25 Nov to Wed 21 Dec with time slots available every 10 minutes between 4pm and 9.30pm. Tickets are £11 for children aged 3 to 16, and £19 for adults with tickets for children aged under 3 free (but required).
Sudeley Castle and Gardens’ Spectacle of Light returns for its seventh year with an illuminated trail around the historic grounds featuring live music, mulled wine, and hot chocolate. Entry from 4.45pm to 7.15 pm with tickets at £21.60 for adults, £10.80 for children, and £57.60 for families until Thurs 24 Nov when prices increase 10%.
Cattle Country Farm Park hosts an enjoyable grotto experience this year including reindeer food making, writing and posting a Christmas list, riding Santa’s sleigh, roasting marshmallows on a firepit and a reindeer trail through the farm. The grotto runs from Fri 2 Dec to Fri 23 Dec between 10 am and 4pm. Tickets cost £5 for children under one, £16.50 for toddlers aged 1 to 3, £18.50 for children aged 4 to 17, and £12 for adults.
The National Trust’s Newark Park hosts another of Santa’s grottoes this December in its historic drawing room with space for a little gift and a chat with up to eight children at a time. The grotto is open between 11am and 15.30pm: Sat 3 Dec, Sun 4 Dec, Sat 10 Dec, Sun 11 Dec, Sat 17 Dec, and Sun 18 Dec. Pre-booked tickets for the grotto are required and cost £6 as well as the standard National Trust entrance fee of £9.50 for adults, £4.75 for children and £23.75 for families.
The Mozart Symphony Orchestra returns to Cheltenham Town Hall for a screening of the film ‘The Snowman’ with a live orchestra. There are two screenings at 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm on Fri 23 Dec with tickets costing between £10 & £30 depending on your seats. You can read more about the performance on P11 of Primary Times Gloucestershire’s October Half Term edition.
Step into the historic buildings of Llanthony Secunda Priory for a free Christmas fair full of handmade crafts and delicious food on Sat 3 and Sun 4 Dec between 11am and 4pm. A wide range of stalls showcases locally-produced woodwork, craft, artwork, books, and Christmas decorations plus delicious festive treats available at the priory’s Clements Café.
To meet some of Santa's feathered friends as well - who may have accompanied him on his journey from the North Pole - why not visit him at WWT Slimbridge, where he is resident on two sittings before Christmas, Sat 10 Dec and Sun 11 Dec and Sat 17 Dec to Wed 21 Dec? Families can meet Santa in his wetland grotto, receive a gift and enjoy a full day out at the centre - with lots of festive activities to take part in. Time slots: 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm, 2.15pm, 3pm & 3.30pm. £9.50 per child.
Santa's Coming to Slimbridge, WWT Slimbridge www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/whats-on/santas-coming-to-slimbridge-2022
Gloucester Steampunk Winter Revels www.visitgloucester.co.uk/whats-on/gloucester-steampunk-winter-revels-p3163903
Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/enchanted-christmas?utm_campaign=westonbirt_newsletter_date&utm_medium=email&utm_source=westonbirt_newsletter
Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle and Gardens sudeleycastle.co.uk/events/spectacle-of-light
Cattle Country Farm Park - www.cattlecountry.co.uk/christmas
Newark Park - nationaltrust.org.uk/events/afbe3584-dffe-46fb-ada6-3763847649f5/pages/details
Mozart Symphony Orchestra plays ‘The Snowman’ - cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/event/the-snowman-in-concert-387758/
Christmas Fair at Llanthony Secunda Priory - llanthonysecunda.org/llanthony-christmas-fair/
