It's time to start booking Christmas outings - what will YOU be doing?

[QuimJongUn]

Tickets have just gone on sale for a Kate Rusby Christmas show at Sage Gateshead - we go to a Christmassy show of some description there every year, and I absolutely love KR, so we've booked! They also have another Christmas evening every year which consists carols and readings hosted by a well-known type (we've had Matt Baker, Angela Rippon and Gervase Phinn before now) - tickets are usually released in June, so that'll be another thing booked in the coming weeks.

Tickets for this year's local panto went on sale in September last year - it's very popular, but DD will be 20 at Christmas so probably won't partake this year.

Anyone else got anything booked yet? Or will be booking soon? Hoping for some inspiration for other festive evenings

I think the first time they had some videos on their website that I showed dd beforehand and I was really enthusiastic about it but said we would probably never get to go.

We got the invitations posted through the door whilst the dc were in one evening.

It's honestly so magical. When you go through to the village everyone heads straight for the ice skating so I wouldn't do that first we usually get something to eat then go skating. You don't need elf jingles we didn't bother second time round. You'll need wellies.

@holyshmoley The candlelit procession and carols in Durham is absolutely magical. The Jesmond service is beautiful, too, and they have several - they do it five or six times over the (iirc) second week in December, evenings and afternoons, so there are plenty of opportunities to go. Why not do both?! Last year we went to the Crisis charity service at St Nicholas Cathedral and it was absolutely beautiful - all the money raised went to Come and there were some very moving moments, especially the choir of ex homeless people Crisis had helped. And afterwards we all gathered outside in the Cathedral square with candles to sing Hark the Herald Angels - total goosebumps!

The Clic Sargent Christmas concert (used to be at City Hall, now at the Sage) is great fun, as are all the Christmas concerts at the Sage. And if you can, do try to catch The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes at Live Theatre - we went last year and it was breathtaking. They're doing it again this year so we'll be going back!

We are going to do the Santa dash for our local hospice. We did it two years ago with a 2 year old and a newborn and it was so special. It's only a couple of miles and we will walk with the kids but dressing up and joining in is lovely

I would like to take the children to a carol service but we aren't religious. Might try and get to one of the outdoors ones

We're going to Butlins 18th-21st December. We went last year, too. It's very cheesy and tacky, but fun and festive and perfect for the dc (ours are 2 and 4). I've also booked tickets for a Christmas show at our local theatre, just for me and bigDD, on the 23rd.

Oh my, Butlins I bet is brilliant at Christmas!

We've just booked for a Santa train and will be going to the illuminated walk at Wakehurst. We're also debating taking DS1 to a Pantone, as he'll be five just after Christmas. Other than that, we'll fill the weekends with school fayres, scavenging for holly etc and doing lots of Christmas crafts etc.

We've got the panto booked and a visit to santa at our local zoo

We always visit a festive market with dd and she has a chocolate waffle and hot choc hopefully can ice skate this year

We always have a family Xmas (ils attend) brunch with our elf

Not planned Xmas eve morning

@wrecktangled

I adore Longleat - went once about 2/3 years ago and loved the santa train, the fire, really lovely, you also get house dressed up and maybe festival of light lanterns. Present was good too.

I have just booked Albert Hall sing a long carols I have always wanted to go and DC too young. And a local production of childrens nutcracker. Its all done now - so excited and we are doing Lapland UK for the first time. I cant wait to get them home from school and do the whole ...." oh there is something hanging down there from the chimney - what is it"??

@donniemurdo

www.bkrailway.co.uk/your-visit/santa-trains/

Santa train at Bo'ness.

The deer centre at Cupar sometimes has a lovely grotto and the deer as well.

The enchanted Forrest light show up near dunkeld gets rave reviews.

Any Lancashire based things that anyone knows of at all?

Are you close to Bury, OhHoly? East Lancs Railway has the Santa train.

I've just booked this:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey/features/christmas-at-dunham-massey

Too excited! 🎅

Oh thanks august I'll look into it then. Can you use Clubcard vouchers for it? Is it expensive?

We've just become members of the local farm park and they apparently have the best Father Christmas and they do a panto etc so we will probably do that.

I've booked The Snowman for Dec 23rd, The Nutcracker for the 27th and a New Years break at the Bedruthan. I just need a trip to Santa and I'm done, some of the ones you have all mentioned sound lovely but I'm in the South East and I haven't seen anything I've fancied yet. Anyone else down this way with any ideas?

Where's The snowman on @ShesAStar?

I LOVE this post and the fact the North East is really being celebrated here. I try so hard to make Christmas magical for our daughter - she will be 6 in January and our second baby is also due in Jan 18, so I've booked a few things to make our last Christmas as a family of 3 as special as possible for her this year. I am ,however, conscious that I'll be heavily pregnant in December so haven't gone for anything too strenuous.

On the weekend of the 10th December, we are going to the Sage Gateshead to watch Royal Northern Symphonia with the Inspiration choir perform their annual carol concert. We went last year, and we all really enjoyed it. We have also been to see The Snowman alongside the Orchestra every year, but are giving it a miss this year -will pick it up again next year when the baby is approaching 1. I was delighted to see there is a showing of Home Alone on 3rd December, but am still undecided whether I'm happy to pay the £39 ticket price when The Snowman tickets are half that!

The following weekend, we have booked tea with Santa at Gosforth Garden centre. We originally took Eliza when she was only 11 months old and it was great so I'm hoping she'll love it again now she gets REALLY excited for Christmas.

Lastly, on the 23rd we have booked into the Playhouse theatre in Whitley Bay to see their Cinderella pantomime. It's her first panto, but if she enjoys it, I'm sure it won't be the last.

In the past we have also been to Kielder Winter Wondeland. It was brilliant, and we will certainly go again. We may even book a lodge next year so I can pop back with baby if needed. We also took Eliza on the Polar Express at Stanhope a few years back - I was going to book again this year, but I have heard there is currently a legal case happening so it is not running.

I would have liked to visit Sant's grotto at Alnwick Gardens, but the tickets sold out so quickly, I'll have to save the on sale date in my calendar next year. We haven't done Christmas at Beamish yet either which is also something we will do within the next couple of years.

Finally, we will visit local National Trust properties - Wallington Hall was beautiful last year. In the past we have also watched a 1 man performance of A Christmas Carol at Belsay Hall. Other 'free' things we will do are to visit North Shields Victorian Christmas market, Fenwick's window and possibly ice skating at The Centre for Life.

It makes me so happy planning things that will hopefully be remembered fondly by my daughter!

Haven't tended to do a lot of activities because of money situation but we're paying off our mortgage & downsizing so should have more funds this year. We sometimes book the panto. Considering Polar Express ( DD is 8). Any suggestions for things going on in Mid Cornwall appreciated.

I was also going to ask where The Snowman is on. Love the TV version. Envious of whoever had 6 parties in December. Nobody seems to have Xmas get togethers anymore. DH & I don't drink so maybe we don't get invited cos people think we might be boring!

@tigercub50 In the North East, the Snowman is on at The Sage Gateshead. It's lovely - the film plays alongside a live orchestra. Have you got any concert halls/orchestra venues near you? If so, check their listings as they are likely to have something similar. Fab news you're paying your mortgage off too - we are slaves to ours!

I've found The Snowman tour up north www.carrotproductions.com/ which will be in Chester, Glossop, Chesterfield, Derby, York, Durham etc but the closest one to us is Coventry and that's too far to travel Does anyone know of a production in the South East?

We always go and cut down our own Christmas tree from our local NT place (hindhead common). That's usually the first couple of weekends in December.

This year I really want to do the Painshill light walk (apparently the grotto is open and lit up which would be beautiful) and the lantern walk at Wakehurst (Kew).

We've done Hever Castle before which is magical. They have a pantomime walk where you can talk to the characters as you walk round the grounds. Last year it was Jack and the Beanstalk and the characters each gave us something to trade with the next character. Not doing that this year, as I want to try some different things, but I would definitely recommend it and we'll be going back in a few Christmas' time.

We did Lapland UK last year (DD had just turned 4) and it was fantastic.

Also looking for ideas for South Wales!

My mum sorts out panto tickets for all the grandchildren (and parents), so I leave that in her capable hands.

I have booked Harry Potter Studio Tour for a couple of days before Christmas. We went last year at the same time and it was a perfect outing for my teen. The Great Hall is decked out for the feast, and everything looks so festive.

Booked to see the Gruffalo's child xmas eve. Previously on xmas eve we have done disney on ice and Lapland UK.

Our local NCT property is doing a lovely 'T'was the night before christmas' production in December so will book that for a few days before xmas too.

@shinesun09 Christmas Nights at St Fagans Museum is lovely. We went a few years ago and are going to book again this year. Not loads to do but lovely and festive.

@shinesun09 Christmas Nights at St Fagans Museum is lovely. We went a few years ago and are going to book again this year. Not loads to do but lovely and festive.