Across the county of Dorset, communities are preparing to celebrate Christmas 2024. We shake the snow globe and look at festive events, shopping and dining in our towns and villages
Festive Shows at Lighthouse Poole
Step into Christmas (Dec 6) with this warm-hearted family spectacular packed with festive chart-toppers. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) get festive with Handel's Messiah (Dec 11), a special screening of The Snowman (Dec 14) with live accompaniment by the orchestra, Last Night of the Christmas Proms (Dec 21) and the singalong Carols Celebration (Dec 23). Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman hosts a Yuletide Christmas Show (Dec 15), and Strictly fans will enjoy Christmas with Anton Du Beke (Dec 19). There's Carols by Candlelight (Dec 22) with The Armonico Consort, and this year’s panto is Sleeping Beauty (Dec 12 –Jan 5) starring Chris Jarvis as Nanny Nutkins and Todd Carty as King Tucker. Book at lighthousepoole.co.uk
Illuminate at Abbotsbury
This magical outdoor winter lights display transforms the award-winning Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens throughout December. Designed by Dorchester-based lighting specialist OT Event Technicians, multi-coloured LED floodlights create a winding trail into an enchanting and immersive landscape. The extended route, suitable for dogs on leads too, allows you to experience the rare plants and trees this garden is famous for in spectacular colour highlighting their forms, shapes and textures. It runs from 4.30pm to 8pm on selected dates from November 22 to January 31. Prebook essential at abbotsburytickets.co.uk
Christmas Wonderland {panto image}
Explore Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland trail with its festive light shows and Christmas trees from around the world (until Dec 31) and SKATE ice-rink in the Lower Gardens offers real ice-skating under the stars (until Jan 5/iceskatebournemouth.co.uk). Cool Coast Ice Rink, the largest indoor ice-skating rink on the South Coast, is at the BIC (Nov 30 – Feb 25, coolcoasticerink.co.uk). Bournemouth Pavilion’s panto is Jack and the Beanstalk (Dec 7 – Jan 5) starring Calum Lill (Coronation Street) as the villainous Fleshcreep, David Ribi (Milkshake!) as Jack, and Noel Brodie is Silly Simon. Book at bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
Maritime Light Trail
Poole’s free festive light show (Nov 23 – Jan 1) features an array of nautical themed decorations in a nod to the town's heritage as you follow the light trail from Falkland Square, through the High Street and onto Poole Quay. Impressive light installations for 2024 include a galleon, walk-through lantern and bauble, an anchor as well as Christmas tree installations and the 13m blue sea life tree in Falkland Square. There are also garlands, icicles, beautifully wrapped trees, and a marine 'ceiling of light' featuring fish and starfish. poole-christmas-maritime-light-festival.co.uk
Christmas at Kingston Lacy
From November 30 this National Trust Property near Wimborne is transformed with Christmas decorations highlighting a different festive wish. Families will find trees twinkling with lights, tables ready for glorious Christmas feasts, and the chance to make magical Christmas memories together (entry by timed ticket, prebook). Help the Kingston Lacy Wish Makers find all the escaped presents around the garden trail, then settle in for a storytelling session with Santa (prebook, various dates between Nov 30 – Dec 23), before taking a magical ride on a children's vintage carousel (weekends in December, then daily Dec 18 – Jan 5). Book at nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy
Advent Calendar and Shows
Christchurch Living Advent Calendar (Dec 1 – 24), features daily musical performances at 6pm at venues around town concluding at 2pm on Christmas Eve in Saxon Square. There’s a Christmas Gnome Home Hunt at the Red House Museum (Dec 7 – Jan 5) and Herigeas Hundus reveal how your Anglo-Saxon ancestors partied in their Yuletide Living History Event (Dec 7). The Regent Centre screens the Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker (Dec 17 & 20), and there’s an unexpected visitor in Christmas Town for Santa and his elves in Glad Rag Production Company’s Christmas Spectacular (Dec 14 –24). Book at regentcentre.co.uk
Chettle’s Makers Market
Chettle Village Store is hosting this independent market (Dec 7, 10am –4pm), in the adjacent courtyard and barns, where 25 local and sustainable brands will be selling a plethora of responsibly made gifts including textiles and illustrations from Catherine Rowe Designs, soaps from Dyppe Wild Beauty, Gillian McCormick Glass Art and Dorset Dried Flowers. This free event includes a fire pit to toast marshmallows, drinks from Cranborne Chase Cider and music from Bournemouth’s Funky Little Choir.
Christmas. Time.
It's Christmas Day and Charlie are Toby are serving time at His Majesty's pleasure. But why shouldn't they be having a Merry Christmas despite their incarceration? Carols, Claus and custody combine in this fun festive show. Dec 5, Halstock Village Hall (VH); Dec 6, Corfe Castle VH; Dec 7, East Stour VH. Book at artsreach.co.uk
Carols in the Earthouse
Surely one of Dorset’s most unusual venues, Cranborne Centre of Ancient Technology’s performance space the Earthouse gets into the Yuletide vibe with The Crick Crack Club Christmas Carol Show with stories from Ben Haggarty, Tim Ralphs and Steph Brittain and music by Sheema Mukherjee and Raol Neumann. Between them they unwrap a teetering pile of winter-wonderlandish fairytales and otherworldly glowing-by-the-fire legends. Expect mistletoe, druids and Christmas tree shrines. December 8 at 1.30pm.
crickcrackclub.com
Wreath Making on Brownsea
Escape the madness on the mainland and take a boat ride to Brownsea Island for this festive event in the John Lewis Partnership run Brownsea Castle. National Trust staff and experienced wreath-making volunteers guide you through this two-hour workshop, all materials provided, followed by a two-course lunch. Then take a stroll around the island or hang out in the castle bar before you take the boat back to Poole Quay. Cost £75, includes boat, wreath making and lunch. December 10 – 12, starts 10am. Prebooking essential.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island/events
A Christmas Carol
David Mynne, a founder member of the legendary Kneehigh theatre group, returns to Dorset with his one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ mesmerising miser and a bunch of ghosts. Dec 13, Marnhull VH; Dec 14, Milborne St Andrew VH; Dec 15, Burton Bradstock VH. Book at artsreach.co.uk
Christmas Afternoon Tea
Enjoy one of Athelhampton House’s bespoke Christmas Afternoon Teas, followed by a unique opportunity to visit after dark, with an exclusive tour with the Estate Manager of one of Dorset's finest Tudor Manor Houses which has been beautifully decorated for Christmas. December 18 – 20. athelhampton.com/events
White Christmas Dip
How about taking a quick dip on Christmas Day to raise money for Macmillan Caring Locally? The White Christmas Dip at Boscombe Pier is now the UK’s biggest charity dip. Take the plunge (in fancy dress or not) on Christmas Day at 9.45am. Pre-register at whitechristmasdip.co.uk
Cold Moon Walk
December’s full moon is known as the Cold Moon as it occurs when the nights are longest and darkest. So, wrap up well for this two-hour guided walk by moonlight at RSPB Arne, taking in the beauty of the full moon and the starry night sky. Tickets include a flask of hot chocolate to enjoy while you take in the beauty of the Cold Moon. Starts at 3.30pm. December 14 (with Women Only Walk the following day). Book at events.rspb.org.uk/arne
Solstice Sunrise Stroll
Join this group morning walk to view the sunrise from Old Harry Rocks on the shortest day of the year (Dec 21) followed by a full English breakfast at Knoll Beach Café (veggie and vegan options available). Prebooking essential, seating available both inside and outside (if you are bringing a dog) at the cafe. Meet promptly at South Beach Car Park at 7.15am, walk is 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back. Book at nationaltrust-tickets.org.uk/tickets
Christmas Cheerleading
This energetic, fun dance class with some gymnastics movements is suitable for 6 to 11-year-olds. Lead by Ally at Bridport Leisure Centre, this is a great way for youngsters to burn off some of that excess energy by learning fun routines to dance music incorporating pom poms, gymnastics and dance. Christmas themed costumes are encouraged (no long dresses or capes) December 30, sessions at 2pm and 3.15pm, cost £7. Spaces limited must prebook 01308 427464. bridportleisure.com
