9 Wonderful Things To Do In Bristol This Weekend (November 28-30)

Santa Claus is coming to town for the first time since 2019. Cabot Circus will once again host Santa’s Grotto in the heart of Bristol, alongside a theatrical adventure designed especially for families, Santa O’Clock. Led by cheerful elves, journey through rooms filled with ticking clocks, snowy owls and festive surprises, leading to a very important meeting with the Big Man himself.

This November, we’ve partnered with Tesco Mobile to give you the chance to win some epic prizes in the Golden SIM Hunt. If you’re lucky enough to find one of these shiny Golden SIM Cards hidden throughout Bristol, all you have to do is scan the QR code to redeem your prize. From new Apple iPhone 17s to Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus’, gift cards and more. This might just be your brightest Black Friday yet – but best be quick, the hunt ends on December 1, 2025!

Cult dessert brand Insomnia Cookies is opening its first Bristol store on College Green and serving its gooey, melt-in-the-mouth cookies until 3am. To celebrate, the store will be giving out FREE cookies to all guests when it opens its doors at 2pm. Better yet, the first person in the queue will win a year’s supply of Insomnia cookies and the first 50 to win an exclusive Insomnia merch bag.

A second event later that evening will showcase what has earned Insomnia its cult following: its late-night opening hours. Until 1am, more FREE cookies will be handed out, with a live DJ playing from 8pm to get the vibes going. Then, a lucky person to make the 1000th transaction of the night will also bag a year’s supply of cookies.

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.

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.

Christmas at Westonbirt welcomes an exciting line-up of new and returning features for its much-loved illuminated trail, inspired by wildlife, woodland and the changing seasons. Step into a fibre optic network of colour-changing mushrooms; find giant wicker woodland animals nestled amongst the arboretum’s plants; and warm up at the fire garden created using 154 candles and 150 electric flame bulbs. Plus, so much more!

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.

Luminate, ‘the UK’s number one light trail’, heads to Bristol’s Ashton Court. A new mile-long illuminated, after-dark experience will feature stunning light elements and interactive light play. Just one of the installations sees 4,000 illuminated roses change colour in a display set to a medley of music. Other bespoke installations include the perfect photo-op Mirrorball Alley and the retro game Simon Says. Plus, the Luminate fairies want to make one lucky visitor’s dream come true.

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.