Christmas events around the corner

9:00am - 15 November 2024
Two boys under sparkly Christmas lights

The Christmas countdown is on and lots of festive fun can be enjoyed across North Somerset in the next few weeks.

See festive lights switched on:

  • Nailsea – the Christmas tree light-up ceremony takes place on the Village Green on Friday 22 November.
  • Weston-super-Mare – dazzling lights will be switched on from 5.30pm on Saturday 23 November in the Italian Gardens. This year, the lights will shine brighter on a new reusable Nordik tree, with 8,664 pre-installed LED bulbs. To tie in with the switch-on event, a festive version of popular food and drink festival eat:Weston will be running throughout the day. The Sovereign is also hosting its own Christmas event on Thursday 5 December with live music from Lipinkski, Santa’s grotto, entertainment and more.
  • Portishead – visit the High Street from 5.40pm on Monday 25 November to see Santa arriving via the V-Dubs and Portishead’s lights switched on.
  • Clevedon – join a procession from Clevedon Pier to Marine Lake for the annual Light up the Lake event. From 4.30pm on Saturday 7 December.

Go gift hunting at local markets:

  • Pick up a gift and help raise money for charity at Mendip Christmas Fair. This popular event takes place tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday at the Aldwick Estate in Redhill.
  • Enjoy a glorious evening of music, food and drink, and stalls at the EatShopLove Christmas Market, from 6.30pm-10pm at the Winter Gardens, in Weston-super-Mare, on Friday 22 November.
  • A wide range of stallholders will be selling their unique products at Weston Museum’s Christmas Market Weekend. Visit the Burlington Street museum from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.
  • Browse more than 100 stalls at the Christmas special of Clevedon Sunday Market, taking place from 10am-2pm on Sunday 1 December at Clevedon Community Centre in Princes Road.
  • Step bank in time and experience the magic of a traditional Christmas, during the Dickensian Christmas Fayre, at the Plough Inn in Wrington. The tree will be lit at 6pm on Friday 6 December, followed by festive stalls and food, raffle prizes and mulled wine.
  • Browse more than 50 festive stalls at Bleadon Christmas Market, from 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday 7 December, at the Coronation Halls.
  • The popular eat food and drink festival moves into Nailsea on Saturday 7 December. Visit the Crown Glass Shopping Centre and High Street between 10am and 4pm.
  • Storytelling, card making and festive refreshments will be offered alongside stalls selling Christmassy crafts at the Penny Brohn UK Festive Market, from 2pm-5pm on Saturday 7 December. It’s being held at the Penny Brohn centre, in Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, and all funds raised will directly support those facing cancer.
  • One of Portishead’s biggest events returns on Sunday 8 December. The Posset Christmas Market (previously the Victorian Fayre), features an array of stalls including gifts, food and drink and charity stalls. Visit the High Street from 2pm-6pm. 1p entry.

Other events to enjoy:

  • Discover more about the Mendip Hills National Landscape with family-friendly activities and crafts to try your hand at. The landscape of the Mendips is being brought to Weston-super-Mare during a free drop-in event from 10am-1pm this Sunday (17 November) at the Front Room Theatre, in Central Walk, in the town centre. Mendip’s Recovery Ranger will be giving talks and there will be tales from the new book, Walking the Darker Side of Mendip, which containing a series of 10 walks in the area. For more details email mendip@mendiphillsaonb.org.uk or call 01761 462 338.
  • A winter treat comes to Weston’s Front Room Theatre this month. The Elves and the Shoemaker is a bonkers adaptation of the classic folk tale, using playful puppets, clowning and magical surprises. Suitable for ages three to seven. See all other events at the theatre, in Dolphin Square, on its website.
  • Step into a magical world of both silence and sound during a Christmas Silent Disco, at the Winter Gardens, in Weston-super-Mare, on Friday 6 December.
  • Prepare to be enchanted as the iconic Mr Punch works with Santa and his elves to save Christmas. Free performances of The Grinch and Mr Punch Puppet Shows take place on Saturday 7, 14 and 21 December at Weston Museum, in Burlington Street.
  • Put your favourite festive fancy dress on and run 2k to help raise money for Children’s Hospice South West. The annual Santas on the Run event is for all ages and abilities, whether you walk or run the fun-packed course, from noon-2pm on Sunday 8 December at Charlton Farm in Wraxall.