Ready or not, the big ‘C’ is coming and there’s so much to organise – trees, decorations, lights, food, presents! Yet no matter how early we start preparing, there are always a million things to do at Christmas that we somehow manage to forget about. So while you worry about whether to buy a present for that cousin who may or may not turn up, we’ve put together this guide to some of the best Christmas events in Bristol. That’s one less thing to worry about!
1. Hit up Bristol Christmas Market
Everyone knows about Bristol Christmas Market. Christmas isn’t complete without it. The sprawling annual event has taken over Broadmead until December 23. There are over 50 festive stalls selling gifts, festive treats, unique crafts, and more, alongside numerous bars. You’ll also find romantic ski gondolas, a new VR Sleigh Ride experience, and multiple appearances from Santa himself.
2. Pick the perfect Christmas tree from a local farm
Before the festivities can truly begin, you’ve got to buy a Christmas tree. You could dust off your old artificial tree sitting in the attic again this year, we won’t judge, but nothing beats the sight and smell of the real thing. Kickstart the festive spirit with a family day out on a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree at these wonderful forests and garden centres near Bristol. Whether you’re after a freshly-cut fir or a sustainable and locally sourced tree, check out our guide for best places to buy Christmas trees in Bristol.
3. Cosy up with Candlelight Christmas Concerts
If you ask us, Christmas is nothing without the music. The holidays can’t get better than traditional carols and Xmas hits. But what if they were performed by a string quartet under the gentle glow of candlelight? Keep your eyes out for Candlelight Christmas Concerts in Bristol here.
4. Going ice skating on Christmas Day
Indulging more than our fair share of mulled wine, mince pies and turkey slices this Christmas in Bristol, we’d better get some exercise in, too. What better festive activity for burning calories is there than ice skating? No one expects you to become the next Torvill or Dean overnight, but these but you can ice skate every day at Planet Ice—even on Christmas Day!
5. Visit the Christmas Village
If the Bristol Christmas Market wasn’t enough, there’s also a ‘Christmas Village’ in Bristol this year. Taking over Castle Park, the Christmas Village will run every day (apart from Christmas Day) until December 27—with a roller rink, a curling rink, funfair rides and more!
6. Become an elf yourself this Christmas
Have a truly Enchanted Christmas experience in Bristol and become an elf yourself. Using cutting-edge technology, digital storytelling, and AR/VR effects, you are on a mission to help save Christmas at Planet Ice. Solve challenges, dance with elves, and show your bravery during an epic snowball battle to defeat Krampus. To get your tickets to Enchanted Christmas, head here.
7. Get into the festivities at Avon Valley
When has Avon Valley ever not thrown itself into the season? This Christmas is no different. Up until December 24, the adventure park will host a day of theatrics, entertainment and themed activities. From the snowy, pine-scented forests of Christmastown (and the chaos of its kitchens) to Santa’s Cabin and Toy Factory, there’s so much to see and do! Meanwhile, The Grinch returns, as does The Elf Express, Mrs Claus’ Gingerbread Parlour and Santa’s Post Room. To learn more about Christmas at Avon Valley, head here.
8. Wander through a wintry Westonbirt
Christmas at Westonbirt welcomes a host of new installations inspired by wildlife, woodland and the changing seasons (November 28 to December 31)—with sparkling light displays set to music and seasonal sounds. The new Mycelium Network invites visitors to step into a glowing world of colour-changing mushrooms, while ten giant wicker woodland animals will be nestled amongst the arboretum’s plants.
9. Watch a one-of-a-kind drone light show
The Bristol night sky will come alive with drones on December 20 & 21. WILD: The Drone Light Show welcomes all to an eco-friendly, world-class drone light experience. From dramatic deserts to icy oceans, journey through five breathtaking worlds of wildlife for a 40-minute show with hundreds of high-quality drones soaring in perfect harmony. It’s the pet-, child- and ear-friendly alternative to fireworks the whole family can enjoy this Christmas! To get your tickets to WILD: The Drone Light Show, head here.
10. Pick up decorations at one of the UK’s biggest Christmas shops
Whitehall Garden Centre’s Christmas shop is arguably one of the biggest in the UK and only a 20-minute drive from Bristol city centre. It’s selling everything from artificial Christmas trees to novelty snowman ornaments and Lemax decorative villages. You could hop in your car now, load up on seasonal knick-knacks, and have your house completely decorated before bedtime. What are you waiting for!?
11. Meet the Big Man himself
Cabot Circus is hosting its first Santa’s Grotto in the heart of Bristol for the first time since 2019 (until Christmas Eve)—featuring 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.
12. Visit the most Christmassy house in Bristol
This Winterbourne house’s decorations get bigger and brighter every year—this year, featuring over 150,000 lights. Expect bright lights, festive aromas, music and bubbles from Winterbourne Wonderland, as it raises money for The Grand Appeal and Suicide Prevention UK. This year’s display even adds interactive buttons—including voice-activated, motion-reactive and action-based triggers
13. Have an alternative Christmas shopping trip
While ‘buy more, spend big’ is usually the mantra at Christmas, Sparks is inviting visitors to embrace conscious, creative choices. The community-led department store’s independent traders have curated a range of thoughtful, planet-friendly gift guides, while Sparks is also encouraging options that last, such as concert tickets, creative workshops, vouchers for treatments or memberships to local charities.
14. Head down to Vintage Winter Wonderland
Taking over Millennium Square until December 28 (closed Christmas Day), the Bristol’s Vintage Winter Wonderland brings plenty of entertainment in the form of a helter-skelter, dodgems and other vintage funfair games. You’ll also find an après chalet-style bar, food stalls and plenty of festive cheer on the Harbourside.
15. Visit Treasure Island in a brand new musical adventure
Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale becomes a brand-new musical (December 4 to January 10)—featuring Jayde Adams‘ professional stage acting debut at the Bristol Old Vic. Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure is described as “a story of friendship, hope and reaching for dreams just beyond the horizon.” Expect heart, joy, and showstopping musical numbers. What more do you want from Christmas?
16. Step out on a Christmassy walk in the country
There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors at Christmastime. Just an hour’s drive from Bristol (two hours on the bus), Glastonbury Tor is the UK’s second-best Christmas walk. Whether visiting for the Winter Solstice or Twixtmas, the Tor is steeped in history and myth, and boasts the most incredible views of the Somerset Levels. From the Holy Grail to the fairy realm of Annwn, ‘ley lines’, and King Arthur’s Avalon, there’s more than what first meets the eye…
17. Make your own mulled wine
Mulled wine is an incredibly tasty festive treat. A glass of the warming, heavenly drink magically appears in our hands wherever we go at Christmas. But why do we waste all that money buying it out and about, when mulled wine is super easy to make at home? All you need is a pan and a hob, and the ingredients which can be picked up from any local supermarket. Most recipes require you to warm up red wine, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and a touch of sugar or honey to taste. It’s as easy as popping it all in a saucepan together and simmering on low (with a pan cover) for 15 minutes.
18. Have an Xmas sing-along
19. Take an enchanting trip to the Festival of Light
With a little help from Bristol’s very own Wallace and Gromit, Longleat’s legendary lantern trail, The Festival of Light, returns to Europe’s first safari park. Your favourite Aardman characters—like Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, Morph and more—are visiting the UK’s most famous landmarks remade in lantern form. This includes trips to a 15m tall Tower Bridge in London, as well as iconic sights of Stonehenge, Giant’s Causeway, Blackpool and West Wallaby Street—up until January 11, 2026.
20. Visit ‘the UK’s number one light trail’ in Ashton Court
Luminate is brightening the nights at Ashton Court with a stunning new mile-long illuminated journey. Until Friday, December 28, the mesmerising trail will feature stunning light elements and interactive light play, all set to a beautiful soundtrack. Just one of the installations sees 4,000 illuminated roses change colour in a display set to a medley of music.
21. Catch these children’s Christmas classics in concert
For one day only (Monday, December 22), the acclaimed Mozart Symphony Orchestra brings its magical West End Christmas concert to Bristol Beacon, performing live soundtracks to two beloved children’s classics. This immersive experience sees The Snowmancome to life on the big screen, complete with the iconic Walking in the Air, as well as The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, narrated live and performed to Axel Scheffler’s famous illustrations.
22. Witness Will Young make his pantomime debut
Will Young makes his pantomime debut as the Spirit of the Beans in this family-friendly production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Joining him is multi-award-winning TV and theatre star Charlie Brooks as the Giant’s wife, children’s TV favourite Richard Cadell as Silly Simon (accompanied by Sooty!), returning Bristol panto favourite Andy Ford as Farmer Trot, and Benjamin Yates and Ashlyn Weekes as Jack Trot and Princess Jill.
23. See what Christmas used to be like at this ancient parkland
Christmas returns to Dyrham Park (November 21 to January 5) with a host of activities in this ancient parkland. The house has once again been dressed up with historical festive decorations from the Tudors to the 20th century – with a new 1999/millennium room!
24. Go ‘Twilight Tobogganing’ by thousands of fairy lights
Turning tobogganing into a magical experience for all, Twilight Tobogganing is running until January 4, 2026, at the Mendip Activity Centre. The slope has been decked out with 10,000 fairy lights, coloured flood lights and lasers, as well as festive music and a snow machine. Afterwards, relax by wandering through an ancient woodland illuminated by Christmas lights. This will lead to the woodland campfire, where worn-out tobogganers can toast marshmallows, make s’mores and light sparklers. You can learn more here.
25. Cosy up with a Christmas film
After all these exciting activities, you’re going to be worn out! It’s time to wrap on the sofa and fall in love with our favourite Christmas films all over again. Take your pick of some of the newest Christmas film releases such as Spirited and Falling for Christmas, as well as Christmas classics such as Elf and Miracle On 34th Street.
There’s even a whole TV channel dedicated to Christmas to get you feeling festive. So get cosy on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate or something stronger because, baby it’s cold outside! Also, check out our guide to Christmas films here.
The post 25 Fabulously Festive Things To Do At Christmas In Bristol – From Dazzling Light Trails To An Xmas Sing-Along appeared first on Secret Bristol.
