It's time for holiday cheer in Bristol! Use our guide to find all the festive activities. Whether Bristol is your home or your holiday stop, our guide highlights the best festive events.
This season, the Bristol Christmas Market brings a delightful array of stalls offering handcrafted gifts and delicious seasonal treats in a charming atmosphere. Additionally, Christmas at Wookey Hole features spectacular light displays and interactive experiences for families to enjoy. And the Twilight Tobogganing at Mendip Activity Centre is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a unique outdoor adventure under the stars. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Bristol
- Bristol Christmas Market
- Christmas at Wookey Hole (Wells)
- Twilight Tobogganing at Mendip Activity Centre (Churchill)
- Victorian Christmas Weekend at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
- Father Christmas at Hestercombe House and Gardens (Taunton)
- Meet Father Christmas at Bristol Zoo Project
- Father Christmas Grotto, Bath (Bath)
- BS3 Santa
- The Lumosphere
- Vintage Winter Wonderland
See these and even more events listed below!
Bristol Holiday Light Displays
Vintage Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
"Elaborate decorations and live music"
Description:
Vintage Winter Wonderland in Bristol features a festive atmosphere with elaborate decorations, live music, and seasonal activities.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Vintage Winter Wonderland
Bath “Lights the Night”
What to Expect:
Community lantern procession and musical celebration at Bath Abbey.
Description:
Bath “Lights the Night” is a community event featuring a lantern procession through the city, culminating in a musical celebration at Bath Abbey. Local children create beautiful handmade lanterns, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Where: Bath | More Info: Bath “Lights the Night”
Bristol Holiday Markets and Shopping
Bristol Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with traditional German drinks and live music.
Description:
Bristol Christmas Market in Bristol City Centre features over 35 unique stalls selling gifts, crafts, and seasonal treats. Enjoy traditional German drinks and live music at the Jäger Barn Bar, and explore diverse food stalls offering German Bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and sweet delights like crepes and churros.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Bristol Christmas Market
Bristol Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas at Wookey Hole
What to Expect:
Unique blend of festive lights, Santa visits, and circus shows.
Description:
At Wookey Hole, immerse yourself in a Christmas celebration with 100,000 fairy lights, a visit to Santa's traditional Grotto, and a festive-themed circus show. Enjoy all other attractions, including a special Christmas Movie in our 4D Cinema.
Where: Wells | More Info: Christmas at Wookey Hole
Victorian Christmas Weekend at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian Christmas experience with historical reenactments and local music performances.
Description:
Celebrate Christmas in a historic setting with Victorian-era characters, traditional carols, and festive activities at Brunel's SS Great Britain.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Victorian Christmas Weekend at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Father Christmas Grotto, Bath
What to Expect:
Interactive experience with professional actors and musicians.
Description:
Meet Father Christmas in a fun and interactive experience at Milsom Place in Bath. Help the elves wake him and hear a story about their plans for the best Christmas ever. Enjoy a 20-minute experience with professional actors and musicians, take your own photo with Father Christmas and his magical musical elf Sprinkles, and receive a gift.
Where: Bath | More Info: Father Christmas Grotto, Bath
BS3 Santa
What to Expect:
Interactive Christmas show with Santa and Sven.
Description:
BS3 Santa features a Christmas show with Santa and Sven, including music, sleigh bells, and interactive elements, suitable for families.
Where: Bristol | More Info: BS3 Santa
Street Carols in Clifton, Bristol
What to Expect:
Talented local performances supporting cancer charities.
Description:
Join local choirs and musicians at Clifton College Chapel for a night of festive carols and music, supporting cancer charities across the UK.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Street Carols in Clifton, Bristol
Carols at Bath Abbey
What to Expect:
Family-friendly Christmas celebration with choir performances and audience participation.
Description:
Join all the Abbey choirs, including the young Melody Makers, for a variety of seasonal music, readings, and audience participation. This event is perfect for families, offering something for everyone.
Where: Bath | More Info: Carols at Bath Abbey
Christmas at Speigeltent, Bristol
What to Expect:
All-Bristol lineup with live performances and surprises.
Description:
Bristol247 celebrates its 10th anniversary with a vibrant party at the Spiegeltent, featuring an all-Bristol lineup of renowned artists, including Roni Size and Sam Binga. The event promises a dynamic and memorable experience with live performances and surprises, with all profits supporting independent journalism and social environmental projects.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Christmas at Speigeltent, Bristol
Bristol Other Holiday Activities
Twilight Tobogganing at Mendip Activity Centre
What to Expect:
Exclusive toboggan use with festive lighting and marshmallow toasting.
Description:
At Mendip Activity Centre, Twilight Tobogganing offers a unique outdoor adventure where families can enjoy exclusive use of 8 toboggans, slide down a snow-dusted slope illuminated by 10,000 twinkling fairy lights and lasers, and then embark on a glittering woodland walk to an enchanted grotto where they can toast marshmallows and indulge in hot chocolate.
Where: Churchill | More Info: Twilight Tobogganing at Mendip Activity Centre
Father Christmas at Hestercombe House and Gardens
What to Expect:
Interactive grotto experience with friendly elves.
Description:
Meet Father Christmas in a charming setting at Hestercombe House and Gardens, where friendly elves will keep you entertained in the grotto before you visit the winter gardens and Father Christmas's sweet little garden folly.
Where: Taunton | More Info: Father Christmas at Hestercombe House and Gardens
Meet Father Christmas at Bristol Zoo Project
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Meet Father Christmas at Bristol Zoo Project, where children can interact with Santa in a fun and festive environment amidst the zoo's animals and attractions.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Meet Father Christmas at Bristol Zoo Project
The Lumosphere
What to Expect:
Ethereal and mysterious collaboration between artists.
Description:
The Lumosphere is a multi-sensory experience that immerses visitors in an ethereal and mysterious world, blending art and illumination.
Where: Bristol | More Info: The Lumosphere
Santa’s Grotto at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway
What to Expect:
Interactive storytelling and craft activities with Santa.
Description:
Visit Santa's Grotto at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway for a special Christmas story session and festive craft activity. Enjoy a visit with Santa and take home a special gift.
Where: Bristol | More Info: Santa’s Grotto at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Kingswood (4 miles)
- Mangotsfield (5 miles)
- Nailsea (7 miles)
- Portishead (8 miles)
- Yate (10 miles)
- Chipping Sodbury (10 miles)
- Clevedon (11 miles)
- Bath (12 miles)
- Mendip (15 miles)
- Weston-super-Mare (18 miles)
- Trowbridge (19 miles)
- Newport (20 miles)
- Frome (20 miles)
- Chippenham (20 miles)
- Burnham-on-Sea (23 miles)
- Cwmbran (23 miles)
- Risca (24 miles)
- Penarth (25 miles)
- Cardiff (25 miles)
- Pontypool (26 miles)
- Stroud (27 miles)
- Caerphilly (28 miles)
- Bridgwater (29 miles)
- Barry (30 miles)
- Gloucester (32 miles)
- Pontypridd (34 miles)
- Ebbw Vale (34 miles)
- Yeovil (36 miles)
- Swindon (36 miles)
- Taunton (37 miles)
- Cheltenham (38 miles)
- Tonypandy (39 miles)
- Merthyr Tydfil (39 miles)
- Rhondda (39 miles)
- Aberdare (41 miles)
- Coity (42 miles)
- Hereford (42 miles)
- Bridgend (42 miles)
- Salisbury (44 miles)