Christmas is a magical time of year in this very special place and there’s so much to see and do on and around the Peninsula. There’s something for everyone from arts and crafts to theatre to beautiful gardens, exhibitions, Christmas farmer’s markets and children’s fun.
December 2016
Throughout December, Winter Sale at Dartington Crystal and free entry to the visitor centre and factory tour. Come and see how this world famous glass is made and take advantage of the offers in the shop for truly personal and unique gifts. See http://www.dartington.co.uk/visit-us/visitor-centre for opening times and full details.
Throughout December, Magical Winter Garden Illuminations, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. See the Winter Garden as you’ve never seen it before, as high-tech colour changing lights illuminate the trees and shrubs to create an enthralling show. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-garden-rosemoor/magical-winter-garden-illuminations.
Throughout December, Winter Sculpture Exhibition, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. Pick up a trail and see how many sculptures you can discover; most are available for sale. Free, guided sculpture walks leave the Visitor Centre at 11.30am most Wednesday mornings. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-garden-rosemoor/christmas-at-rosemoor
Throughout December, Christmas Events at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. Special Christmas lunches, workshops, Christmas story trail, winter planting demonstrations, a holly trail…and much more. Visit RHS Rosemoor this Christmas and New Year to be inspired and invigorated. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-garden-rosemoor/christmas-at-rosemoor
3rd December Welcombe Pottery Christmas Sale, Welcombe Pottery, Welcombe 10am – 5pm. Mulled wine and mince pies and beautiful handmade gifts. Come along to get your festive shopping off to an inspirational start. See http://www.welcombepottery.co.uk/ or call 01288 331506. Darracott, Welcombe, Devon,EX39 6HG
3rd December, Christmas Fayre, Parish Hall, Hartland. Come and get into the spirit of Christmas at with the annual Hartland Christmas Fayre. Delicious food, fabulous local crafts and arts and Christmas music from the Hartland Town Band – what better way to find presents, select your Christmas goodies and stock up for the festive season.
3rd December, Christmas Concert, 7.30pm, Hartland. Join the wonderful Hartland Town Band for a resounding Christmas concert – the perfect start to the Christmas season.
4th December, Christmas Concert, 7.30pm, Hartland. Your second opportunity to join the Hartland Town Band for traditional Christmas favourites.
4th December, Clovelly Christmas Lights, Clovelly. Christmas is a magical time at Clovelly. The promenade starts down the cobbles with a local brass band leading the procession down to the harbour and accompanies Christmas carols sung by a local choir. There’ll be a hog roast, hot dogs, Christmas grog and other refreshments available at the Harbour and Lifeboat Station and Father Christmas will make a surprise visit. At about 5 p.m. the switch is thrown and the entire village and harbour are lit up. It’s a fantastic sight! A Carol Service is then lead by the Chaplain of the Lifeboat Station, The Rev. Shirley Henderson, and there is a grand finale of fireworks to finish off. Entrance fee: £5 per car at the Visitor Centre after 3 pm. All proceeds to RNLI. See: www.clovelly.co.uk/news-and-events
7th – 21st December, Santa’s Coming to Town, local villages. Santa is visiting on his sleigh! Organised by the Round Table to raise money for local charities, come and see Santa arrive on his fabulous sleigh, a magical family moment.
8th December, Christmas Bingo, doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start. This is a fixture in the Hartland Christmas calendar. Locals and visitors alike join together for a spot of Christmas Bingo and to celebrate the festive season together.
10th December – 2nd January, Aladdin, Queen Theatre, Barnstaple. North Devon Theatres and Imagine Theatre present an Aladdin’s cave of entertainment for the festive season, with fabulous sets and costumes, superb song and dance routines and lots of laughter for the whole family. In Old Peking, poor young boy Aladdin struggles to make a living with his mum Widow Twankey and silly brother Wishee Washee in their Chinese Laundry…if only he could make his fortune and then all their dreams would come true! See: http://northdevontheatres.org.uk/shows/aladdin/
10th – 24th December, Santa Specials on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Woody Bay. Book early for this very popular, very special steam train ride through stunning scenery and receive a present for Santa himself. See: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/page/santa-specials-2016
17th December, Christmas Markets, Big Sheep Abbotsham, 9am-1pm, Free Entry. Free range turkeys, organic meats, sprouts on stalks, cheeses, cakes, puddings, biscuits, fudge, chocolate, bread, fish and Christmas trees are just some of the delights which will be on offer at the South West’s BIGGEST indoor Farmers’ Markets. So why not forget the hustle and bustle of high street shopping and enjoy the social buzz of a fantastic traditional country farmer’s market. Stock up on some last minute Christmas presents in the BIG Sheep’s Sheepy Shop which is an Alladin’s Cave full of unique and quirky gifts. See: http://www.thebigsheep.co.uk/events/details/christmas-farmers-markets
17th December, Family Gingerbread House Workshop, Big Sheep, Abbotsham. £20 per family. Why not start you own family tradition and create your very own magical gingerbread cottage – What better way to get into the holiday spirit than generations spending the afternoon creating and decorating a gingerbread cottage masterpiece together. The workshop includes FREE flat back ginger bread, icing and cake board costs £20 per house and is open to families of all ages (1 adult to every 3 children per house). So why not round up your family and start the Christmas season by decorating a festive gingerbread house by bringing along your favourite selection of sweets – all you need to bring are your sweets and a vivid imagination and Lori will share her skills and experience as well as fire you up with creative ideas. See http://www.thebigsheep.co.uk/events/details/gingerbread-workshop
17th-24th December, Woolly’s Christmas Wonderland, Big Sheep, Abbotsham. Santa’s elves have been beavering away day and night at The BIG Sheep adding their very own Christmas creativity to bring the magic of Christmas to everyone who visits and these enchanting little elves are bursting to share their Christmas secrets and magical moments with you. Meet Santa for an early Christmas Gift – from £5 per child, Enjoy Ice Skating, Tobogganing & Snowboard Simulator. Magical Light Show, Breakfast with Santa – 18th & 19th December, Ewetopia Indoor Playground, Eweston Station Train Ride, & Twister Ride. See http://www.thebigsheep.co.uk/events/details/woollys-wonderland.
18th December, Hartland Farmers Christmas Market, 10am-1pm, Hartland Parish Hall. This is a wonderful, festive, annual fixture for locals and visitors alike. Come and buy truly local produce and crafts of the highest quality while the Hartland Town Band play and delicious food and drink is served. There is nothing like it for getting all your festive goodies and really getting into the spirit of Christmas.
18th December, Methodist Carol Service, Methodist Church, Hartland, 6pm. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the spirit of Christmas with the annual Methodist Carol Service.
18th December, Carol Service, St Nectan’s Stoke, Hartland 11am-12pm. All welcome to join in St Nectan’s annual Carol Service in this beautiful church.
21st December, Christmas Market, Big Sheep, Abbotsham, 9am-1pm, Free Entry. The last of the Big Sheep’s famous Christmas markets:free range turkeys, organic meats, sprouts on stalks, cheeses, cakes, puddings, biscuits, fudge, chocolate, bread, fish and Christmas trees are just some of the delights which will be on offer at the South West’s BIGGEST indoor Farmers’ Markets. See: http://www.thebigsheep.co.uk/events/details/christmas-farmers-markets
24th Crib Service, St Nectan’s Church, Stoke, Hartland. 3pm for half an hour. Plenty of participation for those who want it, dressing up, singing… and everyone is welcome.
24th December, Carols Around the Tree, 7.30pm, Hartland Square. If you are lucky enough to be in Hartland on Christmas eve this is an absolute must-do event. Carols Around the Tree is one of Hartland’s deepest Christmas traditions. Locals and visitors alike gather in the main square around the beautifully lit town Christmas tree to sing traditional Christmas carols, accompanied by the wonderful Hartland Town Band. At 7.30pm on Christmas eve, when hopefully all the wrapping, cooking, cleaning and preparation for Christmas is done, this marks the true start of relaxing, enjoying and celebrating this special season.
24th December, Midnight Communion, St Nectan’s Church, Stoke, Hartland. 11.30pm for 1 hour. All welcome to joint the Midnight Communion in beautiful Stoke Church.
25th December, Christmas Day Communion, St Nectan’s Church, Stoke, Hartland. 10am for 1 hour. Everyone is welcome.
25th December, Christmas Day Swim, Crooklets Beach, Bude, 11am.Every year on Christmas Day more than five hundred people dash into the water in swimsuits only (no wetsuits) while hundreds more cheer them on from the beach in the annual Christmas Day Swim, raising money for Bude Surf Life Saving Club. Everyone is welcome to join in; children aged under 14 MUST be accompanied IN the water by an adult. Bude SLSC provide qualified lifeguard safety cover, mulled wine, hot chocolate and sausage rolls all FREE of charge so please find sponsors or make a donation to take part. To enter download a registration form from here, or just turn up to watch this very different but also very festive annual event!
26th December, Boxing Day Barbeque, Clovelly. Join us for our Boxing Day Barbecue on the quay at Clovelly, With FREE entrance into the village, why not have a walk on the estate then come along to the barbecue where there will be live music, mulled wine, and even a treasure hunt if you are up to it. Free entrance all day. See: www.clovelly.co.uk/news-and-events
January 2017
Throughout January, Winter Sculpture Exhibition, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. Pick up a trail and see how many sculptures you can discover; most are available for sale. Free, guided sculpture walks leave the Visitor Centre at 11.30am most Wednesday mornings. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-garden-rosemoor/christmas-at-rosemoor
Until 2nd January, Aladdin, Queen Theatre, Barnstaple. North Devon Theatres and Imagine Theatre present an Aladdin’s cave of entertainment for the festive season, with fabulous sets and costumes, superb song and dance routines and lots of laughter for the whole family. In Old Peking, poor young boy Aladdin struggles to make a living with his mum Widow Twankey and silly brother Wishee Washee in their Chinese Laundry…if only he could make his fortune and then all their dreams would come true! See: http://northdevontheatres.org.uk/shows/aladdin/
Until 7th Jan on Thurs, Fris and Sats, Magical Winter Garden Illuminations, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. See the Winter Garden as you’ve never seen it before, as high-tech colour changing lights illuminate the trees and shrubs to create an enthralling show. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-gardens/whats-on-at-rhs-garden-rosemoor/magical-winter-garden-illuminations.