North Norfolk is home to many magical Christmas events, Santa's grottos and festive cheer this winter. There’s plenty on for all the family. See our event round up below.
Santa's Grottos and Events:
The North Norfolk Pole at Pensthorpe. Santa Claus has decided to set up his home at The North Norfolk Pole at Pensthorpe on selected dates from 30 November to 23 December 2024 over nine special dates. It is the perfect festive event to put the sparkle into Christmas early this year for children of all ages! This experience consists of a 1.5 hour experience with Santa, his helpers and Mrs Claus (plus lots of surprises), along with drop in activity stations including reindeer food making. Visit the toy shop with your gold coin from Santa at any point throughout the day to collect your great quality gift. There is also an optional build a cuddly teddy experience with Santa’s chief elf. All tickets include access to the nature reserve so you can meet the flamingos, build dens, run wild in the outdoor play area, and let off steam in Hootz House indoor play centre, plus so much more! Find out more.
BeWILDerwood - A Sparkly Light and Panto Trail. New for 2024, meet Father Christmas himself where children will have the opportunity to say hello! All children will recieve a festive gummy lollipop. (Please note, this is not a Christmas grotto experience and is included in your event entrance ticket). Then watch the very special BeWILDerwood pantomime, full of family fun and magical merriment, enjoy our unique spin on a traditional pantomime. Timeslots: 4pm, 4.45pm, 5.30pm, 6.15pm and 7pm (lasts around 20 minutes). Also, follow The Sparkly Light Trail through BeWILDerwood and see if you can spot silly snowmen, candy canes and other festive favourites along the way. Tickets £17.50 per person. Find out more here.
Christmas at Holkham Hall. As seen on Channel 4’s ‘Christmas at Holkham’, the Hall’s state rooms are decked each year, making them truly magical, and it’s even better in person! Be amazed as you take it all in on this self-led tour this Christmastime; explore the rooms at your own pace. Hall Guides will be on hand to share inspiration behind each room and answer any questions. The shop will be open with gifts and Christmas decorations, and the Courtyard Café offers seasonal food and beverages. Self-led tours are taking place on 29 and 30 November, 1 to 4 December, 8 to 11 December, 13 to 15 December, 17 to 20 December 2024. Find out more here.
Set sail with Broads Tours on the Santa River Cruise on selected dates between from 30 November and 23 December 2024. Santa’s Elves will have a gift bag for all children aboard over 3 years old and a festive treat. Children will be able to visit Santa in his grotto and receive a present from Santa himself! Adults will receive a glass of mulled wine and a festive treat. Listen to festive music as you cruise down to Wroxham Broad. The Santa Cruises leave from Wroxham and trips are 1½ hours at 11am and 2pm. Tickets are £24 per person. Find out more.
Santa's Magical Journey at Thursford (includes the Enchanted Journey of Light). Visit Father Christmas in the magical setting of Thursford. Your journey takes you from penguins and polar bears to giant sized teddy bears ready to load Santa’s sleigh and then past the busy elves hard at work in the toy factory with the wonderful wrapping machine. You’ll meet lots of fantasy characters including the snowman’s family but watch out for the snowballs! Your journey continues as you venture outside to the Lantern Light Extravaganza. On selected dates from 23 November to 23 December 2024. Find out more and book.
A Felbrigg Christmas - Wild Wood Hall: The Search For Red. This Christmas, immerse yourself in a new tale from Wild Wood Hall. Follow a trail around the ground floor of Felbrigg’s 17th-century house filled with imaginative decorations, exquisite animal illustrations and soundscapes recorded on the estate. This year, visitors will follow in the paw prints of two young wolves on a quest to find their pack’s matriarch. After journeying through a wonderland filled with scenes including a mirror ball tree, a glittering fungi feast and frosty mountainscapes, the young wolves discover their leader in a secret den, caring for a new litter of playmates. Families can enjoy craft activities and a quiet break-out space will be available for those with additional sensory needs. Delicious themed treats and hot chocolates from the Squire’s Pantry tea-room top-off the experience.
2024 dates (11am til 3pm):
Friday 22, Saturday 23, Sunday 24 and Monday 25 November
Friday 29, Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 and Monday 2 December
Friday 6, Saturday 7, Sunday 8 and Monday 9 December
Friday 13, Saturday 14, Sunday 15 and Monday 16 December. For ticket prices and information visit here.
Carols in the Courtyard are now a Christmas tradition at Felbrigg. Join in with the carol singing accompanied by the Cromer and Sheringham Brass Band on 15 December 2024 at 2.30pm. Find out more.
The Christmas Experience at Wroxham Barns. There's lots of festive fun for families at Wroxham Barns and its Christmas Experience. Immerse yourselves in a wonderland of Christmas activities. Attend Elf College and learn the tricks of Santa's cheekiest helpers! Decorate gingerbread with Mrs. Claus and create magical reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Then, write a letter to Santa at The North Pole Post Office before you hop on the North Pole Express. At the end of the ride, you can enjoy a private meeting with Santa in his cosy grotto and then the children can each choose a special gift from Santa's toy shop. Find out more and book.
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Dippy's Christmas Celebration at Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure. From 30 November 2024, at weekends and on selected days leading up to Christmas, ROARR! will be transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland for Dippy’s Christmas Celebration. From the moment you step into the Park, you'll be immersed in the festive spirit with seasonal music filling the air, towering Christmas trees adorned with oversized decorations, and of course, dinosaurs celebrating the season too! Each admission ticket (£15.95) includes access to the following attractions (10am to 4.30pm): the Candy Cane Trail, Dippy and Friends Christmas Show and ice skating. For £14.95 per child (including one adult*), little ones can enjoy an enchanting group experience with up to 50 children per session with Father Christmas. Take part in four festive activities, including making reindeer food, all leading up to a memorable visit with Father Christmas himself. Find out more here.
Christmas at Blickling Hall, 30 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, 10am–3pm (last entry to the house is 2.30pm). Inspired by the conservation of a wonderful Star Atlas from the stunning Long Gallery, this winter Blickling presents you with the stars! Explore star-filled rooms, wonder at the skies above as you explore the story of this special book. With light installations, family fun and games and a chance to help decorate the hall, this is an opportunity to see the Star Atlas by Andreas Cellarius, a masterpiece of Dutch mapmaking, and wonder at the creativity it has inspired. Enjoy a spot of Christmas shopping in the shop and tuck into delicious seasonal food and warming drinks in the Stables and Muddy Boots cafés.
From 30 November to 15 December 2024 (5pm to 8pm), the Garden of Lights at Blickling Hall will amaze you with an evening of colourful displays and illuminations, taking you on a journey through the seasons on a new accessible level route. Step into summer in the Walled Garden, autumn on the parade, winter on the acre and the brightness of spring up at the Temple. All the seasons will be featured on the Parterre, where there will be family activities to enjoy and a chance to make lasting memories together. Head to the festive Farmyard for food and drinks, or stop along the route and soak up the atmosphere under the stretch tent as you enjoy toasted marshmallows, mince pies and warming drinks. Find out more and book tickets.
Wells Christmas Tide Festival. Taking place from 29 November 2024, Wells Christmas Tide Festival sees Santa Claus arrive in Norfolk from the North Pole by sea. There is a Christmas lights switch on at 4.30pm. On Saturday 30 November, Santa is due to arrive on the Quay at around 5pm before heading for his grotto to see children. After this will be the spectacular fireworks display directly in front of the quay. The festival itself will commence on with a carol singing event from 6.30pm.
Santa's Grotto Experience at Wells Maltings. After arriving via Wells Harbour as the climax of Christmas Tide, Santa Claus takes residence in his specially created grotto at Wells Maltings to meet children and their families and share a few stories and gifts. Santa will spend approximately 25 minutes with the whole group, telling stories and tales of his adventures, before opportunities for photos with individual children and families. Find out more and book tickets here.
Fabulous festive shows and pantos:
Cromer Pier Christmas Show (16 November to 29 December 2024). The Cromer Pier Christmas Show will warm your hearts and get you well and truly in the Christmas spirit with lots of festive fun. Expect all the usual West End production values including a jaw-dropping 8-metre video wall delivering sensational special effects to a whole new level, alongside the much loved traditional scene sets and dazzling bespoke costumes. You will have plenty of laughs and enjoy thrilling speciality acts, powerhouse vocals as well as spellbinding dance routines, delivered in Cromer Pier's special trademark way, worthy of the only full season end of pier show in the world! Find out more and book.
Hunstanton Princess Theatre (7 December 2024 to 5 January 2025): Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Watch Snow White and her friends as she battles against the fearsome Evil Queen. Accompanied by brilliant special effects, amazing dance routines, exciting musical numbers, fun audience participation, and lots of laughs! Find out more and book.
Thursford Christmas Spectacular (suitable for 8+ years). Escape back into the world of Thursford this Christmas with the Christmas Spectacular; an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe! Running from 8 November to 23 December 2024 (2pm and 7pm). Prices start at £43 (weekday evenings). Find out more and book.
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Sheringham Little Theatre (13 December 2024 to 4 January 2025) is putting on Robin Hood. Join the heroic outlaw, the arrow-shooting hero Robin Hood, as he strives to win the hand of the beautiful Maid Marion. Will Robin and his trusty Merry Crew outwit the evil Sheriff of Nottingham? Robin Hood features all the ingredients of a perfect pantomime: a fabulous cast, laugh out loud comedy, fantastic dancers, popular songs, bundles of audience participation, special effects, and plenty of boos and hisses for all the family to enjoy. Find out more and book.
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Light shows and experiences:
Thursford's Enchanted Journey of Light. The fading light of the Winter’s sun, starts the magic of Thursford. Your journey will progress into the Fantasyland Building, as you travel past the penguins and polar bears to the giant-sized teddy bears! Get ready to see how the elves have loaded Santa’s sleigh, then past the busy elves hard at work in the toy factory using the wondrous wrapping machine! Throughout your journey you’ll meet lots of fantasy land characters including the snowman family, make sure you watch out for their snowballs! Your journey continues as you venture outside to the Lantern Light Extravaganza, with lots of creatures to marvel at – a beautiful, breath-taking festival of luminous sculptures, from a fantasy underwater world to the wilds of the North Pole. Watch out for the naughty mushroom gnomes! There is also an outside bar, food and funfair. Find out more and book.
Luminate Light Trail at Sandringham. Nestled deep within Sandringham Estate, awaits a spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, to delight and enthral your senses. As darkness descends, take an enchanting journey, as you weave a captivating light trail through the Royal Parkland at Sandringham. Immerse yourself in the mesmerising mile long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous interactive light play, all set to music. The courtyard area will have tasty hot food and drinks for before or after the trail. On the route you will find mulled wine and marshmallows for toasting on fire pits. Running nightly from 21 November to 24 December 2024. Find out more and book.
Christmas Lights Walk at Fairhaven. Enjoy a night of wonderment with a short magical trail through the historic woodland, taking in the twinkling of fairy lights, families of deer and glowing stars and snowdrops. With access to as many trips around as you want, you can even stop for a top up of hot chocolate, mulled wine or even a Bailey’s Hot Chocolate and mince pie. You can even grab a large marshmallow to tast on the fire pits. Unfortunately, this route is not wheelchair friendly. You can hire one of the electric scooters, but please reserve in advance. £3 per hire for this event. No need to book under 4s, dogs free to attend on a short lead. Running 30 November to 22 December 2024. Find out more and book.
Heritage Rail Experiences:
Bure Valley Railway Festive Express. Hop aboard one of the Festive Express steam trains from 1 to 24 December 2024. Enjoy a one-hour experience from Aylsham Station including festive treats, a 30-minute steam train ride and a visit to see Santa in his grotto. Each child will receive a personalised present from Santa himself. Find out more and book.
The Norfolk Lights Express with North Norfolk Railway, is an immersive, wintertime experience that is fun for the whole family! Arrive after dark at Sheringham Station and you’ll be greeted by the magical sight of a steam-hauled train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights. As your train steams from Sheringham to Holt and back, you will literally see the countryside in a whole new light as the on-board lights shine on to the scenery in a series of changing colours. The theme for this year, Four Seasons in Colour, will also be brought to life by the on-board narration and music. During the 5½ mile journey to Holt you’ll pass around 10 colourful lit-up displays on the lineside or dramatically set in the woods adjoining the track, all telling the story of the changing seasons. Your journey will break with an intermission at Holt, giving you the option to hop off and take photographs with the train or to visit the onboard bar. The return journey provides another opportunity to enjoy the lineside displays with the on-board soundtrack complete with some seasonal music adding to the spectacle. The Old Luggage Office buffet at Sheringham will be open for you to purchase hot soup, hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savoury refreshments. A licensed bar will also be on board each train and can be visited before departure and during the intermission. Running 15 November 2024 to 4 January 2025. Find out more and book.
Santa Specials with North Norfolk Railway. Running from 23 November to 23 December 2024. Enjoy a magical Christmas journey aboard a traditional steam-hauled train! Sit back and relax as your train steams non-stop from Sheringham up the whole length of the line to Holt. Get into the festive spirit and make merry with complimentary onboard refreshments served to your table – mince pies and mulled cider for adults and gingerbread and hot chocolate for every child! There are festive children’s activity packs too, plus entertainers and balloon modellers who will stroll through the train spending time in each carriage for part of the journey. On the return journey, the train will stop at Weybourne Station where you will make your way through an enchanted Christmas Tree Kingdom with a magical seasonal theme, a snowy model railway and Santa’s friendly helpers before you meet Father Christmas himself who will present every child with a special, wrapped gift before you rejoin the train for the short journey back to Sheringham. The whole experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from the time your train departs Sheringham to arriving back at the station. Find out more and book.
Christmas Markets, Fairs and Shopping:
North Norfolk is great for Christmas shopping. There are lots of Christmas markets to shop for that perfect present as well as charming towns offering shopping away from the high street.
Holkham Christmas Market. The popular Christmas Market at Holkham, with free entry, returns for three days on 13 December (noon til 7pm), 14 December and 15 December 2024 (10am to 4pm) in The Lady Elizabeth Wing and Courtyard. With over sixty local and regional producers showcasing artisan food, drink and gifts, there’s plenty to taste and lots of gorgeous gifts to buy. Find out more here.
Creake Abbey Christmas Fair (23 November 2024, 10am to 3pm). Each year, Creake Abbey in North Creake runs a Christmas gift fair with over 60 gift and art stands as well as food and drink stands with locally produced wares. Also at Creake Abbey, there is a Christmas Farmers' Market with gifts on 21 food stands as well as gift stands to see you through the Christmas holiday period.
The regular Holt Sunday market turns 'Christmassy' on Sunday 1 December 2024 (10am to 3pm) so it's a great chance to get ahead on Christmas present shopping. And at the same time, you'll be supporting local businesses. Find out more here. Also Hopper's Yard in Holt (Bull Street, NR25 6LN) is hosting a late night shopping event on 15 November 2024. The courtyard will be decked out for Christmas - a wonderful sight!
Sandringham's Christmas Craft and Food Fair is taking place 15 to 17 November 2024 (between 10am and 5pm). There will be craft, food, gifts and festive fun; all essential ingredients of a successful Christmas event, accompanied with an array of music throughout the weekend. (Adult – £14.00, Child (5-15) – £5.00).
Christmas Market at Penshorpe. Get into the festive spirit and find the perfect presents for all your loved ones at Pensthorpe's annual Christmas market on 8 December 2024 from 10am to 4pm. Attended by the region’s best food and drink suppliers, artists and craft makers, the market provides shoppers with a welcome change of scenery from the high street, with pop-up stalls. £3 entry, free entry for annual members and under 16s. Find out more.
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden Christmas Market. The market takes place on 30 November and 1 December 2024 (11am to 4pm with free entry). Situated in the picnic area behind the tearoom, the market marquee will be full of festive delight with 40 stalls selling presents and treats from jewellery to glitter make up and from baristas to churros! Find out more here. You do not need a garden entry ticket to visit the market and there is free parking.
Race along to Fakenham Racecourse on 9 and 10 November 2024, for the Norfolk Artisan Fair. The fair will showcase the very best that Norfolk has to offer with a range of food, drink and gifts for Christmas with over 100 exhibitors. Find out more.
Fakenham Racecourse's winter fixtures take place on Sunday 22 December 2024 and the New Year's Race Day is on Wednesday 1 January 2025. A day’s racing is an exciting day out for people of all ages; Fakenham Racecourse has a friendly, casual atmosphere and it has no formal dress code. It can be a family affair as children aged 17 and under are admitted free (must be accompanied by an adult). Find out more.
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Dalegate Market in Burnham Deepdale, between 1 November and 24 December 2024 is a great place to go Christmas shopping without the city crowds while supporting local businesses. You'll find a wide range of shops selling unique items you can only find in north Norfolk. Perfect for Christmas gift shopping!
Visit north Norfolk's pretty market towns to find a range of shops and galleries. The towns will be decorated for Christmas with pretty lights and so it's a great way to get into the festive spirit. North Norfolk has it all; department stores, gift shops, antique shops, upmarket brands and small individual galleries and boutiques selling the wares of local artisans. Explore the town markets for local produce and unique items and stop off to enjoy some seasonal food.
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