Magical Christmas experience to help phase out Father Christmas visit for older primary school aged kids?

[Monvelo]

What are your magical Christmas suggestions for older primary school aged kids? Realistically, we are beyond the normal top end of Father Christmas ages as DD is almost 11 and ds8. Last year I all but told dd he's not real but it went soooo badly and she was sooooo upset, we are now back to keeping up the pretence and assuming she's logged it in her head for when she's ready. Younger ds is much less bothered and I'm almost hoping he'll bring DD round! Because of this I'm thinking to try to move from seeing a fake bearded dude down the local garden centre to more of a nice winter family experience that builds a new tradition to keep that magical Christmas feeling. I don't know what I'm asking for because I don't know what's out there, so thought I would ask on here! Any suggestions? I think they'll still want to see FC but perhaps that's one part of it not the whole. We are in Gloucestershire but willing to travel.

We are going for lunch in the ‘coca cola’ holidays are coming lorry 😂 the Christmas light shows are great at that age too especially the one at Chester zoo. If funds will allow a mini break to centre Parcs, it’s all festive and Christmassy.

Best day trip we had was Lapland UK genuinely magical even the then 12 year old enjoyed it. Not cheap but worth every penny

This year we’re going on a steam train ride that has been done up with Christmas lights and exhibits along the way - a quick Google suggests a lot of steam train routes do this during the festive season! Also Lightopia is a great winter experience to visit (I think they do it in several places)

The end of Father Christmas was traumatic for both of my DDs. I think it is hard to get it right. I was confident that neither of them believed, but apparently I was wrong and ruined everything.

Exactly!!!!!

How about a ‘glow light experience’. Ie. A walk around stately home, RHS garden etc that has a lot of different illuminations.

I second train of lights we do it with mainly grown ups plus two littlies after Christmas it’s fun you can take snacks and alcohol and it’s not weather dependent and you get to sit down!

Pantomime. Mine loved it at that age.

Naughty elf breakfast at The Ivy, Hogwarts in Snow at WB Studio Tour, National Trust house all lit up and decorated, drive in Xmas movie, ice skating and Xmas market, Panto, Horrible History Christmas show 🎄

National Trust places and Forestry Commisions do great light walks, often with Christmas villages for food etc and even and an ice skating rink

We are going to see the Horrible Christmas play...DC are 9 and nearly 6.

I'd love to see the nutcracker but I don't think my DC would be as interested as me.

We have actually got National Trust membership until January but I couldn't see anything Christmas when I looked, will look again!

Longleat for the lights, it’s Wallace and Grommit this year.
Westonbirt has lights too but I’ve not been.

dd is 10, we do a weekend in London and go to the jingle bell ball which is a concert and then winter wonderland each year and she loves that, she’s also been saying she wants to do something called pinkmas this year it’s a make up brand thing .. not sure if we will as seems a little expensive and the London trip isn’t cheap. She stopped believing in Santa 2 years ago, so we don’t go to see him anymore but carry on the traditions we have always done aside from that .. she loves to decorate her room each year and she chooses new decorations to match a theme she choose the grinch last year, we bake Xmas treats whilst watching Xmas movies and I throw a party for her and a few friends with Xmas music and a secret Santa. It’s not as magical for me now she’s stopped believing but she says it’s her favourite time of year. This year she has asked if she can use some of her present “ budget” to buy toys for children that may not have much so will plan a day shopping and wrapping for that too .. hopefully that will be a new tradition going forward.

Why do we ever have to break the news? They can still get stockings etc
They’ll work it out for themselves!

I wouldn't just plan on no Santa without telling them.

For me personally I didnt believe at that age, but I still (like many kids) clung on to the traditions/feeling/story of it all.. even if you know it isn't real.

Knowing it isn't real doesn't equal not wanting to do it. E.g. you know Disneyland characters aren't real, but they are still fun and exciting for kids.. shows aren't real, but still special.

I would have cried my eyes out if at 8-11, my mum had decided for me that Santa trips were over.

There was an age when I didn't want to do it any more, but that came from me, and wasn't decided by my parents

Sounds like this will be the last year as next Sept will start secondary school so will have to be told sometime next year

many farms do a nice one so can have farm to look at as well as fc

Ideally I'd like a Santa to be there but not as the only thing, like a bit of a transition.

Pantomime or other Christmas theatre? Lots of places do The Snowman or Christmas Carol as a show in December. And Christmas lights are great too.

Blenheim palace do an amazing light trail through the grounds and when we went 5 years ago there was a Santa and helper chatting as you walked past his cabin. So he was there but the different displays of winter lighting were the main thing.

We went to Kew last year and the lights were even better, sort of intricate moving displays of colour, really fascinating. I think they too had a walk past Santa. Lovely dinner in a pub afterwards and the children loved it.

I think if you make it a Winter experience with Santa on the side you are covering all bases.

Ice skating and hot chocolate is usually a winner. Maybe a trip to Hamleys.

There are lots of Christmas events in Bath this year - different concerts/muppets Christmas carol/the snowman etc. That would be a lovely outing, combined with a bimble round the Christmas market. The Abbey sometimes does shoppers carols too - a quick half hour sing song they put on at various times in the day, it's lovely

https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/whats-on/christmas

Agree with one of the after-dark light experiences. Westonbirt Arboretum do a good one, as do Sudeley Castle.

Mine are adults now but we took them to one of the Outdoor Activity centres near us that does a day of planned adventures .
Cannot remember exactly but outdoor archery , pot holing , 4x4 driving , wall climbing type .
They were dressed for outdoor , covered in mud !
They had toasted sandwiches and hot chocolate for lunch then when they got home (knackered ) hot shower and sleep.

DS and DD were in separate groups which they preferred ( age difference )

Not a Father Christmas in site but they had some decorations up.

Other years we went to a Visitors Centre ( making decorations ) and walk round the lake then food/drinks

Longleat Christmas lights , you can book the Santa train if you still want the Santa bit . Or if you really want to go for it Disneyland Paris for a couple of days . We did FC as a ‘legend’ with ours so never had this issue and interestingly both of ours , who are now adult both still love Christmas and Christmas related visits . NT properties are also a good idea , my adult daughter and I have a list that we visit around Christmas and last year particularly liked Kingston Lacy and Hinton Ampner .