What have you booked for Christmas so far?

[chrissysmusts]

I'm a Christmas lover and love all things Christmas so far we have booked;

A centre parks Christmas weekend
Ice skating
The local pantomime
Christmas markets another weekend
A visit to Santa and a Santa train
A family dinner at a local hotel that does a great roast.
My workplace family Christmas celebration

What have you booked...looking for any other ideas to add in!!
I'm so excited!

Wow some people have booked a million things!
Ocardo & Santa! That is all

i am not booking anything at all, but hope everyone else is, then all the streets wlll be empty and quiet at home..

@Autumnleaves4. There are a few national trust illuminations near North London.

@Autumnleaves4 hampton court?

Nothing.. yet. But it'll be a Santa visit and that's about it. Firstly I couldn't afford to book much. Secondly last year we did nothing much at all around Christmas and it was the best Christmas I've had it in years... we drove around a couple nights a week to look at people's outside lights, kids loved it. We watched films and ate chocolate. We spent time together. I felt less pressure on myself to spend all the money doing the 'fun things' and Christmas was still magical.

Personally I don't feel like I need to spend a fortune... also around work we don't have much time do much around Christmas.

There's only three weekends before Christmas in September? Also Dp works weekends. Can't fit a huge deal in 😅

Florida.

@BangingOn

We have an Alton Towers Santa Sleepover re-booked from last year, although now DS is a year older I’m worried he won’t enjoy it as much given the bigger rides won’t be open, although he will love the water park.

I’ve also booked ice skating at Warwick Castle between Christmas and NY, plus a few trips to see family on December weekends.

@BangingOn what was the Alton Towers sleep over like? We are going in two weeks for the first time and not sure what to expect!

Lights at Anglesey Abbey
A weekend away with my in-laws whom we won't see on actual Christmas Day this year
The Polar Express
German Christmas markets (going back to see family)
The Nutcracker Ballet at the ROH

We have a Santa train booked and supper with Santa.
Don't get why those that haven't booked anything are arsey with those that have. Are we not allowed to book anything until December? There will always be something available to book, it might not be your first choice.

@notenoughground ours was cancelled last year so not been, this year will be the first time. The reviews are good though, especially for younger children.

We’ve only booked a Santa visit at a local garden place - had to book in September as it’s very popular and sells out quickly, but I follow the page on Facebook to see when they go on sale. DD is also going to Disney on ice with a relative (they bought her the ticket as a Christmas present). We’ll do the local light switch on too but otherwise it’ll be a drive round to look at local lights, Christmas movies and hot chocolate, Christmas crafts etc.

I’m finding some of the sneery attitudes on here sadder and more of a joke than people having lots of things booked to be honest. We’ve chosen a laid back Christmas this year, and I have enjoyed reading both the long lists of lovely activities and the posts about cozy nights in with Netflix. Surely everyone chooses to celebrate Christmas the way they enjoy it as a family? Just because someone has lots of trips organised it doesn’t mean they aren’t spending time with family too? Our one Santa visit includes my siblings and their DC, and a lovely lunch together on the day. Not everyone has large families or relatives that live near them to meet with? We all have different budgets and if someone can afford to spend more than you surely that’s just life. Seems odd to judge them for it. I’ve always loved the idea of a proper Lapland trip. My parents couldn’t afford it, and I’m not sure I could justify spending that much myself (we’d have to sacrifice other things). Don’t see anything wrong with others going though.

If you’re generally happy with how you’re doing Christmas, and secure in your own choices, then why the judgy comments? Comes across as bitter.

Absolutely nothing! Never have done either.
3dc, think they’ve seen a Santa in a grotto which was in a garden centre and we happened to walk past when they were quiet so we quickly paid and went in.
But apart from that, the thought of masses of crowds, traffic, absolute rip off prices etc has never appealed to me for the name of Christmas!
I do take them to places that will be busy and involve queueing etc but that’s things they’ve asked for. I’m not going out of my way to book anything unless they request to go.
Mil used to take them all to panto every year so I could wrap in secret but they’re older teens now and a 10 year old, they’re not bothered anymore. Thank god
Oh, and the people moaning about not having anything else left to book - book early! A lot of places I’ve seen send out emails months in advance for when they’re releasing tickets so it’s hardly surprising that people book 5 months early for everything

Wait, I tell a lie, we’ve booked a slot to go and choose our Christmas tree with our friends and then a lunch out afterwards, an annual tradition. We are all really looking forward to that, the dc would have hissy fits if we didn’t do it
We had to go on our own last year and forgo the lunch with our friends and it was sad!

I have booked ice skating at the Natural History Museum. I usually book Hampton Court but as it is the last year that the NHM are having an ice rink I thought I would book there instead.

I have booked The Muppets Christmas Carol for the DC at the Backyard cinema.

I have booked myself a Christmas Candle Workshop-I love candles.

Local panto followed by a meal in an 'igloo'

and Reindeer feeding.

I hope everyone enjoys all the lovely events that they have planned :)

I'm seeing Elf the musical with my friend, got the panto booked and a couple christmas markets so far!

I've just remembered something else that I have booked. My DC are choosing and cutting down our Christmas tree. They did it last year for the first time and had great fun so I have booked it again.

All of the above seems quite a lot but as it is over a few weeks it is not too much (for us as a family-I can't speak on behalf of other families).

I view 1st December to 6th January as 'Christmas' not just one day so love having things to look forward to.

It does cost a lot of money but I don't spend much on physical gifts.

Chatsworth Christmas market and Home Alone showing at the local cinema.

We've booked a Santa visit at our local garden centre.

I'm enjoying reading what everyone has booked up. I don't think we'll book anything else personally but some good ideas to keep a note of!

Wasn’t going to do anything but have read about the van Gogh exhibition in Salford and thinking about booking. Looks wonderful for every generation.

(Has anyone been?)

What’s the Alton towers sleepover like?

@70isaLimitNotaTarget I do Dec 1st a few little seasonal gifts that they need anyway. It’s a lovely thing. But I do also get why people gripe as in general holidays, even Halloween etc, are getting horrific in terms of mindless, wasteful and excessive consumerism - take a look at the hundreds of Christmas/Easter/Halloween etc etc ‘hail’ videos on YouTube and see what plastic throwaway cheap tat people gorge on. It is awful and I think it’s right to question whether we need to do something just because others are. That being said if people are shopping mindfully and they can afford to then why not - do it joyfully and never mind what anyone says

‘Haul’ videos that should say

Out of interest - why do people book to see films like home alone, muppets christmas Carol etc at the cinema for them/their kids? I’ve not been to a cinema since pre children (ten years!) and my children have never been so I’m genuinely interested in case we are missing out on something! Is it just for the cinematic experience of dimmer lights, food etc? Or something else? Because we would just watch them at home?

Because watching your favourite movies on a huge cinema screen is amazing.