Are you going on any days out this Christmas?

[ChristmasIsComing2024]

We haven’t booked anything yet but I’ve had a look and everything still seems to have loads of availability when this time last year most things were nearly or completely sold out!!

I did think that it probably has a lot to do with the cost of living but we were all struggling last year too so it must be more than that 🤷‍♀️

Just a quiet Christmas this year, i've booked

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park
School xmas fair
School xmas Carol Concert
School nativity
5 nights in lapland
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Santa's Express Train near me
Gingerbread making with children
Breakfast with Santa at Garden centre
Wreath Making at local florists
Forgot to add Christmas Carol Concert at The Royal Albert Hall on Christmas Eve

Not sure if you're being facetious or not...

That's a quiet Christmas????

We don't do much tbh.

Breakfast with Santa at the local garden centre.

Have a wander round the village looking at lights.

Now in the primary school years if Christmas concerts/nativities etc.

That's it really

Nope, but then we don't usually.

Too many trips, visits, activities and Christmas Day ruined because everyone would be knackered.

Agree so much more availability than usual. I haven't booked anything. I'm being indecisive about santa visit.
Youngest is 10 and still believes.
Older 1 is 13 and found Marsh Farm apart from ice skating too young.
Following for ideas. I'd say I'm between Tulleys/Chessington/Hobbledown Heath/Legoland at the moment. Have done Merlin ones before when we had passes.

2 DCs 14 and 11

They will have various Xmas dos with various clubs/activities.

Might take them to the Christmas markets locally and in the city centre

That's it really.

Quiet Christmas? Reminds me of last school hols where I was trying to keep it low key. I just managed a few treats…

Disneyland Paris
Centre Parcs weekend
maldives
Couple of weekend breaks at Alton Towers
Venice getaway
Florida
Cheap week in St Tropez

Christmas is my favourite time of year, so we always try & do a few festive things.
In the past we'd always do Disneyland Paris, Lapland, & Polar Express train ride but our kids are now 18 & 15, so we're going to a show or carol concert, a few xmas market weekends away including Manchester, Birmingham & London Hyde Park & we always go to Levi in Lapland as we love it there, no matter how old they get!

I don't tend to do much either @fanaticalfairy but this is a more busy year for me:

Local winter fayre and light switch-on
Christmas market day out with friends
Work Xmas night out (don't usually make those due to DH's work shifts!)
Lunch with DH at favourite restaurant

DCs are now a bit older and no longer believe in Santa so those trips out are over for us

Have a 5yo and 3yo. They are still happy with the local stuff so we will do a couple of Christmas fairs with santa. Then probably have a day at Christmas markets in the city. I looked at the prices for other 'experiences' but by the time I buy for the 4 of us it's too expensive and I don't think the kids will enjoy it any more than the cheaper/free options.

And broke, in most cases.

Pantomime

ice skating

fucking hate meet Santa! The less you see him the more you believe in him

Light up trail, pantomime but also have Merlin passes so will most likely do a theme park day out too.

We're going to do the Christmas market/funfair in the nearest city to us, got a night at the Panto booked and will possibly see the Coca Cola truck if the dates and locations are do-able for us when they announce them.

Local light show which was quite pricey.
a walk on the promenade to see seaside light display - Free
A visit to a Victorian National Trust site - Free

Last year we did Santa by Steam but the train windows were dripping with condensation and everyone got Covid 🙈 it was vile and very expensive!

However I have just checked and there’s loads of availability for things usually booked up! So that’s a surprise.

Village light switch on
school fete + nativities
Trip to see FC at a train museum + steam ride
Blenheim Palace lights

This is the most we've ever planned as we have three kids now, eldest is 7 and may not have many years left believing 😭 and youngest is 2 so only just about going to work out what the heck is going on. We may only have this one where all three kids are fully into the whole magic.

Praying they stay clear of all those winter bugs as we missed FC a couple of years ago when youngest at the time was hospitalised with flu 😔

I'm unusually excited about Christmas as I don't enjoy it at all. usually we do fuck all in December, but this year we have a family party for my soon to be 1 year olds birthday we are going to Disneyland and seeing Father Christmas a few days before Christmas. God knows what else I'll plan if I'm left to my own devices for too long this year, I've got really carried away but it's a special year for us after many shitty Christmases.

Panto - won tickets at work
ice skating - free tickets from work social club
local winter festival
maybe a light show.

Santa on the 23rd Dec with a meal out after, that’s it.

We’ve got a few community Christmas markets, light switch ones locally and school fairs we’ve decided to do this year, that’s enough.

All the DDs have days out and pantos with schools and clubs so they are happy with those.

Not booked anything but planning:
Ice skating
Christmas market (possibly 2)
Tractor run
Walk round local Christmas lights
Visit to Christmas tree farm to pick tree

1st Dec we’re going to see a Christmassy kids film - can’t remember what it is now, something with a reindeer! That’s at the local cinema which is doing a family special so it’s only costing us £10 for the 3 of us, then we’ll have a look round our town’s Christmas market (such as it is!)

Play centre for their ‘North Pole experience’ - was good last year and reasonably priced compared to other similar events - going with friends and their DC.

We always do some kind of Christmas day out with PIL and this year it’s a train ride - wouldn’t have been my choice, particularly given how eye wateringly expensive it is, but I was outvoted so will do my best to enjoy!

Usual nativity, school Christmas fair and Christingle on Christmas Eve. The church also does a Christmas tree festival in Dec which we will try to make.

Panto on New Years Eve.

I think this is a joke!

Mil and I are both national trust members so we are going to Lamb House which is local to us as they are having a Mapp and Lucia themed Christmas display and readings. We will have lunch in Rye abd look round the shops.

dd and I will go to some national trust trails with our membership.

we will go and see the Wicked film on a blue light discount day when she breaks up.

we will probably have a couple of cosy days doing Christmas jigsaws, gift wrapping and baking for Christmas

DD's yard put on equestrian games on Christmas Eve afternoon which she will go to, they have a competition for the best decorated tack :)

dd will also have numerous chamber and school choir commitments plus orchestra too so I will go to those.

dh and Dd will go to London for their annual London Horse Show pre Christmas treat, it's their special trip together and I will get two glorious days of peace at home eating cheese and playing the piano with no duties at all as it's on my days off.

Most things we do are free so light switch on, Tractor parade (think this is my favourite activity!) and local santa sleigh which a charity organises each year.

We have booked the Panto and we go to a place where you choose a tree that is then cut for you.