6 Wonderful Things To Do In Bristol This Weekend (November 21-23)

Winterbourne Wonderland is back for its fifth year—featuring over 150,000 lights, the display is one of Bristol’s most unique Christmas light experiences. Look forward to an immersive experience, including moving ‘Elf on the Shelf’ characters, fluttering butterflies in the Enchanted Forest, a magical wishing well and a colour-changing fountain.

Plus, interactive buttons as well as voice-activated, motion-reactive and action-based triggers really bring the Christmas magic to life. The big switch-on takes place on Saturday, with three switch-ons at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm to help manage visitor numbers. This year, Winterbourne Wonderland is supporting The Grand Appeal and Suicide Prevention UK, and to donate, head here.

If all you ever wanted for Christmas was to turn into an elf, the Enchanted Christmas experience lets you become one yourself. Join a magical tale and solve challenges, dance with elves, and take part in an epic snowball battle to defeat Krampus. With cutting-edge technology, digital storytelling, and AR/VR effects, you are on a mission to help save Christmas alongside Santa and his elves.

Global DJ James Hype will bring his explosive SYNC show to build three new micro-homes for the city. BillyChip Live is just two UK performances by the recent Hï Ibiza resident this year, with the initiative being delivered in partnership with local charity Help Bristol’s Homeless. Bristol Beacon will transform into a 360-degree venue for the one-of-a-kind event, surrounding Hype with fans on all sides for a fully immersive performance.

The UK’s first sauna boats, Skuna Boats, will pop up in Bristol for just four weeks this winter. Inspired by Scandinavian traditions, unwind in an electric stove sauna, soaking up panoramic harbour views. With two sauna boats to choose from, one will permanently dock at the Bristol Amphitheatre as a community sauna, while the other will be available for hire, sailing up and down the water, for 75-minute sessions.

Here we go again! The sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! is set to visit Bristol. From West End to global phenomenon, Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at MAMMA MIA!

The most magical time of year returns to Broadmead shopping district, with over 40 unique festive stalls packed full of gifts, treats, crafts, and more, at Bristol Christmas Market. Plus, every Thursday to Sunday, the Jäger Barn Bar will host live music from a variety of local performers, and keep an eye out for Santa himself, alongside elves on stilts, bubble-blowing soldiers, balloon artists, and Christmas choirs.