What’s on this Christmas in Bristol? Festive activities for kids
I don’t know about you, but once Halloween is over I’m chomping at the bit to get my festive on! Christmas in Bristol is one of my favourite times of the year. The city is brimming with wintry fun around the yuletide season – out come the twinkly lights, the Christmas markets and the mulled cider, while inside, festive theatre shows and meetings with Santa fill up the calendar. I’ve rounded up the best Christmas activities for kids taking place in Bristol and the surrounding area so you can make the festive season even more magical for your little ones. MERRY BRISTMAS!
Please let me know if you hear of any more special Christmas events in Bristol and I’ll add them to the list. Submit a listing!
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Table of Contents
Children’s Christmas events Bristol 2024
Victorian Christmas at Brunel’s SS Great Britain (7-8 December)
Travel back in time 100 years and celebrate Christmas Victorian-style with raggedy 19th century costumed characters, carols from local bands and choirs, games and traditional handmade decorations. The ship’s dockyard will be transformed with Christmas greenery and falling snow and there’ll also be a visit from Old Father Christmas in his green robes.
Read my review of a Victorian Christmas at Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Children’s Christmas Carnival at St George’s Bristol
2024 dates: 22 December, 2 & 4pm
Bristol Ensemble present music from Howard Blake’s enchanting tale The Snowman, under the direction of Roger Huckle. Book tickets for St George’s here.
Junior Jungle family rave, Spiegeltent
2024 dates: 30 November
Nick Terrific and MC Rocky Patch bring their electrifying family rave to the Spiegeltent, featuring high-energy beats, wild costumes, and a hilarious take on life. Loved by festival-goers and praised by kids’ entertainers, this party promises to blow your socks off! Perfect for both little and big ravers.
Kid Carpet Extra Super Rokin’ Rock Show
2024 dates: 7, 8 December
Enjoy the best hits from Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals, featuring catchy songs, games, puppetry, and video projections. This energetic rock show is perfect for kids aged 3-10 and families, with extra points for dressing up. Don’t miss this festive gig at the Spiegeltent—fun for everyone!
General Admission £12.50
Rumdoo! Family Cabaret, Spiegeltent
2024: 7 December
A full roster of cabaret, comedy and circus performers – enjoy a captivating show with Loz Because, a comedic circus performer and hula-hooping compère, and Jacqueline Fury, an Australian fire-eating artist. Mikaël Bres dazzles with acrobatic Chinese Pole performances, while J’aiMime brings innovative acts and humour from Australia.
Merry Grinchmas Afternoon Tea, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel
14, 15, 21-22 December 2024
Enjoy a Grinchmas-themed afternoon tea, with a welcome by a festive character, followed by an appearance and entertainment by The Grinch. Includes a festive afternoon tea, and a Christmas gift for children. £35 adults, £19 child (up to 12 years). Pre-booking and pre-payment required – contact the hotel by phone on 0117 9291645, or email.
Breakfast with the Grinch, Chaos Inflatable Park
14, 21, 9.30-11am, December 2024
Bring your little Whos down to Chaos Inflatable Park in Brislington for breakfast with the Grinch, a kind words writing station, a selfie station, an elf hunt, 1.5-Hour bouncing session on the inflatables and Chaos Socks all included in ticket price. More info and booking.
Stomping Story – A stick man, Arnos Vale Cemetery
2024 dates: 21 December
Enjoy an interactive journey through the woods, helping Stick Man find his way home. This outdoor event is ideal for children aged 3-7 and their families. Pre-booking required.
Santas on the run, North Somerset
2024 dates: 8 December, 12-2pm
Pre-empt those mince pies and get into the true spirit of Christmas with hundreds of other Santas on the Run, who will be running 2k around North Somerset’s Charlton Farm in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. Registration also includes 50% off the entry price into Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm on the weekend of the event.
Don’t fancy running? Pop along to support and enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of sprinting Santas!
Santa’s brunch at Clifton Observatory
2024 dates: 8, 15, 21, 23 December, 9am, 11.30am, 2pm
Join Santa and his elves for brunch at Clifton Observatory on select December dates. Enjoy a festive spread with bacon, eggs, fruit, waffles, and pancakes. Drinks include hot chocolates, teas, coffee, and mimosas (for the grownups!) Each child receives a gift.
Tickets are available to purchase here.: £22 for adults, £18 for kids, and £5 for under 3s.
Festive woodland at Bristol Zoo Project
2024 dates: November 30 – January 5
Step into a magical woodland illuminated with lights and meet Father Christmas in his cosy, festive tipi at the Bristol Zoo Project. Wander through 50 acres of open space and encounter animals from across the globe, including giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, meerkats, and ring-tailed lemurs.
Kids can unleash their energy in fun play areas like the Fun Fort, Congo Bongo, and the Barefoot Trail. For those seeking an extra thrill, the Leap of Faith offers a heart-racing outdoor climbing adventure suitable for both adults and children, making it a memorable day out for the whole family.
Click here to book tickets with 10% off.
RETRO-MEGA-MAS, Wake the Tiger
2024 dates: 9 November-5 January
This Christmas, Wake The Tiger art park unveils RETRO-MEGA-MAS, a dazzling, immersive experience blending nostalgic holiday memories with mind-bending surreal, artistic twists. Imagine sentimental installations like toy cars, giant Rubik’s Cubes, dinosaurs watching TV and quirky nods to iconic 80s toys like Mr. Frosty.
Visitors can also enjoy performances by festive robots created by artist Giles Walker singing holiday classics and interactive rooms designed to evoke childhood memories with a fresh, creative perspective.
Free Christmas things to do Bristol
Treefest at St Mary Redcliffe Church
2024 dates: 5-8 December
Treefest is a spectacular festive display of over 100 Christmas trees held within the splendid gothic church of St Mary Redcliffe.
Christingle at St Mary Redcliffe
2024 dates: 16 December, 3pm
Hear the Christmas story in a child-friendly Christingle service at one of England’s finest churches, St Mary Redcliffe. Featuring popular carols and nativity tableau. For a full list of Advent and Christmas Events at St Mary Redcliffe, click here.
Family carol service, Bristol Cathedral
Get into the Yuletide spirit at Bristol Cathedral’s Family Carol Service (22 December 2024, 3.30pm) which includes well-known readings from the nativity story, carols sung by Bristol Cathedral Choristers and Charlie the donkey! Children (and adults!) are invited to come dressed as wise people, angels, or shepherds.
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway will be announcing their 2024 festive events shortly.
Toddler Christmas events Bristol
Christmas for toddlers is catered for in Bristol! Take a look at these festive events for little ones.
Toddler Christmas carols, Bristol Cathedral
2024 dates: 18 December, 9.30am-10am, 11-11.30am, 2-2.30pm
Nervous that your toddler might not last the length of a traditional carol service? Bring little wrigglers along to Bristol Cathedral’s Toddler carols.
Spiegeltent’s Baby Disko
2024 dates: 8, 15 December, 1.15-3.15pm
Bristol Christmas events don’t get much cuter than this! Get ready to shimmy in your sparkles and clown around at the Spiegeltent’s Baby Disko for ages 5 and under (although everyone welcome) on Bristol Harbourside. An exciting event filled with music, dancing, silliness, face painting, bubble blowing, dressing up and fun games.
Entry Ticket £12.50
Ice Skating in Bristol
Festive Ice Skating at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
2024 dates: 30 November-5 January 2025
Swish and swirl on 300 square meters of glittering ice, under special lighting effects at Avon Valley, then soak up the atmosphere with seasonal treats at the apres-skate bar.
The 45-minute sessions start on the hour and skate aids are available on a first come first served basis. NB Ice Skating is not included within tickets for the ‘Christmas Experience’ or Christmas Nights, but can added to your booking at point of purchase.
Show & Skate at Planet Ice, Patchway
2024 dates: 28 November
Planet Ice presents a magical evening of Aladdin, featuring amateur skaters from the Show & Skate class and professional performers. This enchanting ice show follows Aladdin, Jasmine, and friends in Agrabah, combining classic songs with stunning skating. Perfect for families, the event lasts about two hours.
Icescape Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare
2024 dates: 1 November-5 January
The UK’S largest undercover winter ice rink returns to the Tropicana! The rink features real ice and each skating session is 45 minutes long and the ice rink is (manual) wheelchair accessible. Enjoy the thrill of the rides (including a Christmas rollercoaster and bungee trampolines), indulge in festive treats, and meet beloved mascot, Pippen the Penguin.
Clarks Village Ice Rink, Street
2024 dates: 14 November to 5 January 2025
This all-weather 500m2 ice-skating rink at Clarks Village in Street, is set within the grounds of the Arthur Gillet Trust and features real ice, ice discos, quiet sessions and dedicated parent and toddler sessions. Clip-on bob skates and skating aids are available to hire, so wobbly skaters can swish and glide to their heart’s content, and the ice rink is also (manual) wheelchair accessible.
Combine with some Christmas market perusing or sale shopping – you’ll get access to some exclusive brand discounts at Clarks Village when you show your ice skating tickets.
Bath on Ice
2024 dates: 15 November – 5 January
Find festive euphoria on the surface of the huge ice rink in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park. Gliding glee comes in the form of lights, festive music and seasonal drinks from Moguls Alpine Bar.
The nearby mini golf course will be bedecked in twinkly festive fairy lights and keen putters can have a go at playing nighttime Glow Golf with glow-in-the-dark balls.
Best Christmas events for kids near Bristol
Stuck for family-friendly things to do this Christmas? Take a look at these Christmas days out near Bristol…
Avon Valley Christmas Days
2023 dates: Christmas Experience, December 2, 3, 9, 10 & 16-23 , Christmas Nights, December 1-3, 8-10, 15-23, 28-31
As well as their usual mini jeep dino safari, jump pillows, Chair-O-Planes and indoor soft play, there’s a Dinosaur Valley to explore and farm animals to meet alongside tons of festive activities. Delve into the holiday magic with reindeer food-making, receive gingerbread-cooking tips from Mrs Claus, watch a theatrical Santa Show, hop on the ‘Elf Express’ miniature train ride, post a letter to Santa, watch Rudolph preparing for Christmas Eve and knock (if you dare) on the Grinch’s door to see if you can make his heart grow.
If that wasn’t enough merriment for you, finish up with their Christmas Nights Light Trail (not included in your park ticket) which leads merrymakers around the park, past lit-up animatronic dinosaurs, stunning installations and illuminated play areas. Wintry treats like mulled wine and s’more toasting will be on offer to warm your cockles, a disco in the playbarn will welcome boogying on down to Christmas ditties, while a festive fun fair awaits mini thrill seekers (buy tokens onsite for this).
Click to check ticket prices for Avon Valley Christmas Experience
Ocean Adventurers and Space Adventurers Christmas Workshop and Grotto
When? Selected dates in December 2024
Head to Ocean Adventurers (Cheddar) or Space Adventurers (Taunton) for a magical 2.5 hour experience hosted by one of Santa’s elves. Make reindeer food, decorate festive gingerbread snacks, create a decoration for the Christmas tree to take home and meet Santa in his grotto!
There’s also role play street featuring a special Christmas Lapland Post-Office, snow ball fights with the elves, an Elf on the Shelf hunt around the soft play, use of the soft play when not visiting Santa’s Grotto and more!
Christmas at Dyrham Park
2024 dates: 21 November-5 January
This Christmas, Dyrham Park invites you on a journey through the ages with festive decorations representing seven different eras, from Tudor times to the 1980s. Enjoy themed rooms, a reindeer discovery trail for children, and pear-themed decorations inspired by the orchard. Expect wreath-making workshops, and wassail festivities. The tea room offers seasonal treats, and the shop is stocked with holiday gifts. For more details, visit National Trust’s Dyrham Park page.
Local choirs will be singing carols on selected weekends from 23 November-22 December 2024 at 1pm in the village church of St Peter, which is next to the estate.
Christmas at Tyntesfield
2024 dates: 2-31 December
This Christmas, The National Trust’s Tyntesfield will transform into a festive spectacle, celebrating ‘Christmas Past’ with themed decorations throughout its historic rooms. Visitors can enjoy new additions like a carousel and a Dickensian street scene, along with classic favourites like chapel concerts, wreath-making workshops, and reindeer trails.
Festivities run from December 2 to 31, 2024.
Weston-super-Mare Christmas Light Switch on & eat: Festival
2024 dates: 23 November
See the seaside town of Weston set a twinkle by the mayor at the Christmas lights switch-on (5pm). Celebrities from the Blakehay panto will also be in attendance.
The eat: Weston Food Festival will also be going on at the same time in the Winter Gardens and Italian Gardens.
Festive New York Dog Trail, American Museum & Gardens
2024 dates: 12 November – 31 December
An exciting dog trail with the delightful dogs from Alice Tait’s storybook No, Nancy, No! a Dog Chase in New York. Explore the American garden and find all the dogs in their Santa hats, using Alice’s beautifully illustrated map as your guide. With fun story-themed activities to collect at the end of the trail.
Mendip Activity Centre Twilight Tobogganing
2024 dates: 8 November-5 January
Mendip Activity Centre are running their popular Twilight Toboggan sessions this winter. Pop on your free santa hat and shimmy to festive music in between swooshing down slopes dusted with snow (from a machine) and glittering fairy lights. Afterwards, head off along an illuminated path to a canopied woodland clearing for marshmallows, hot chocolate, s’mores and sparklers around the campfire.
There’s also a vast array of outdoor activities still going on throughout winter – make a day of it with frisbee golf, orienteering, ski or snowboard lessons.
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
TBC
Winter Wonderland at Wookey Hole
2024 dates: November 23 – December 24
This December, step into the Christmas spirit at Wookey Hole’s Winter Wonderland. Your ticket includes three magical experiences: a tour of the caves illuminated by over 100,000 enchanting Christmas lights, a visit to Santa’s North Pole Grotto where each child meets Santa and receives a gift, and a festive Grinch-themed circus show. The whole park will be full of holiday cheer, with all Wookey Hole attractions open, plus a special Christmas film in the 4D Cinema.
If you book to see Santa you’ll be given the option to add on a return visit (with 50% off) to Wookey Hole to enjoy their Twixmas experience featuring Paddington TM! The beloved bear will be making guest appearances after the twice daily Panto shows between the 27 December 2024 and 5 January 2025.
Book tickets to Wookey Hole Winter Wonderland
Old Down Christmas Launch
When? 24 November 2024, 10am-4pm
Kick start your Christmas celebrations at Old Down Country Park with a day full of festive cheer to mark the start of the Yuletide season. As well as the annual Christmas Parade with Santa and his entourage, there’ll be crafts, scheduled shows, Christmas decorations, music, food and drink among 66 acres of woodland, adventure park and animals.
Old Down are also running their Festive Illuminations Trail (24 November-24 December), Santa visits (20-24 December) and breakfast with Santa (20-24 December).
Winter at WWT Slimbridge
2024 dates: 7 December, 10.30am to 4pm
Join the Christmas Mosaic Workshop at WWT Slimbridge. Create a festive glass mosaic decoration under expert guidance. All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a beautiful handmade keepsake. Pre-booking is essential. Suitable for adults.
Cattle Country Christmas Event
2024 dates: 7,8, 14, 15, 19-21 December
Before Father Christmas sets off on his magical voyage, he’s parking his sleigh at Cattle Country. Meet Santa in his North Pole Grotto, make your own magical reindeer food, write your Christmas List, decorate gingerbread, have your face painted, listen to Christmas Storytime and enjoy a full day of family fun including new indoor play barn, The Cowshed!
Click here to check ticket availability
Children’s Christmas shows in Bristol
The Snowman Live, with Filton Concert Brass, St Michael’s Centre
14 December, 2.30pm
Step into the enchanting world of The Snowman with Filton Concert Brass, Bristol’s award-winning Championship Brass Band, as they bring Raymond Briggs’ beloved Christmas classic to life. This special performance includes a live rendition of the full soundtrack, with vocalist, pianist, and narrator bringing the iconic Walking in the Air theme to the stage. More info or click here to book tickets.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
- Little Red and other winter tales, (6 Dec 2024 – Sun 12 Jan 2025)
- The Little Mermaid, ages 7+ (5 Dec 2024 – Sat 11 Jan 2025)
Bristol Beacon
- The Snowman plus The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child (21 Dec 2024)
Goldilocks at Bristol Hippodrome
2024 dates: 7 December– January 5
Goldilocks and the Three Bears comes to the Bristol Hippodrome this Christmas. This magical pantomime features comedy, circus acts, and special effects, promising fun for the whole family. Starring Brian Conley and Brenda Edwards. Book tickets now for this festive treat!
The Wardrobe Theatre
- Nutty Noah, (Sat 7, 14 & Sun 15 Dec 2024)
- Santa & Sven (8 Dec, 11am, 2pm & 3.30pm)
- The Snow Baby (20-30 Dec 2024, 11am & 2pm (no 2pm on 21, 28, 29 Dec)
Tobacco Factory Theatres
- Me…(5 Dec 2024-5 Jan 2025)
- A Christmas Carol (9 Dec-5 Jan 2025)
Redgrave Theatre
- Jack Frost & The Winter Freeze (30 Nov 2024, 11am & 2pm)
- The Gingerbread Boy (1-2 Dec 2024)
- Ballet Theatre UK presents The Nutcracker (4-5 December, 6pm)
- Jack and the Beanstalk, (13 December 2024 – 5 January 2025)
Festive illuminations and Christmas light trails near Bristol
I’m all for adorning as many things in twinkly lights as possible, beaming neon-coloured lights into the world and making foliage glitter! One of our family traditions is to visit one of the magical Christmas light trails near Bristol each December and they never fail to get us into the festive spirit!
*Click here to read my post on Christmas illuminations to visit near Bristol*
A Christmas Carol The Drone Show
Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December 2024
Experience Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in a whole new way with a stunning animated drone light show, narrated by Matt Lucas. In this captivating display, vibrant drones illuminate the night sky, bringing iconic characters and scenes from the classic tale to life. Follow Scrooge’s transformation as the story unfolds above, with each seat offering a perfect view of the “stage” — the sky itself.
Enjoy festive treats in the food village and a world-class stadium atmosphere at Seat Unique Stadium, just off Gloucester Road. **15% off for This Bristol Brood readers when you use BRISTOLBROOD15 to purchase A Christmas Carol The Drone Show Tickets. MORE INFO AND BOOKING here.
Santa events in Bristol
Yes, Santa Claus IS coming to Bristol and here’s a round-up of places your little ones can see Santa in Bristol this Christmas:
*Click here to find the best Santa grottoes in Bristol!*
Got a Christmas event in Bristol? Email me at hello@thisbristolbrood.com
Liked this post on things to do in Bristol at Christmas? Find more festive action taking place in the city:
Where to see Santa in Bristol this Christmas
