17+ sparkly Christmas events in Berkshire for families 2024

Looking for some sparkly activities to get you in the festive mood?  Or wondering where to find the best Christmas events in Berkshire for families in 2024?  Look no further!

Berkshire offers a dazzling array of fun Christmas activities for kids and families. Whether you’re looking for magical Santa’s grottos, glittering light trails, exciting fair attractions, or Yuletide ice skating, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Check out our ultimate guide to 17+ must-visit Christmas events for families in Berkshire.  Plus, we’ve included some unmissable festive activities beyond Berkshire to help you make the most of the season. Let the festive fun begin!

• Some tickets have previously been gifted but all opinions are our own.
• This post contains some affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but we may receive a small commission

Peach Place, Wokingham

• Dates:             Sunday 24^th November 2024 (11am – 5pm)
• Programme:  Wokingham Winter Carnival 
• Cost:               Free

2024 sees the return of our Wokingham Winter Carnival on Sunday 24 November!

With over 125 stalls, funfair rides, food and entertainment there will be lots to do and see.

Wokingham Winter Carnival is a FUN day out for the whole family. The town is closed to traffic for the day so children can join in the fun in a totally safe environment.

There’s a whole host of street entertainers, music, singing, dancing and the fun of the fair with loads of different rides, whether you’re young or old.

Santa will be in his grotto and for lunch there are stalls offering an amazing choice of food and drink.

Windsor on Ice, Alexander Gardens, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3HY

• Dates: Friday 15^th November 2024 – 5^th January 2025
• Tickets:  Windsor on Ice
• Cost:     £47.50 (family of four)

One of the best Christmas events in Berkshire for families is ice-skating in Windsor. Just minutes from the royal castle, this is surely one of the best venues for a festive ice-rink? As well as skating, you can enjoy the funfair from 3pm or spot Father Christmas at the weekends.

Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9NR

• Dates:    From 16^th November 2024
• Tickets:  Christmas at Basildon House
• Cost:       free for National Trust members

Immerse yourself in a wonderland of beautifully adorned trees, garlands and twinkling fairy lights.  This year they will be celebrating 20 years of Basildon Park as a filming location and the opening of the exhibition “Visions Unreel”.

Ascot Racecourse, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7JX

• Dates: 21^st December 2024
• Tickets:  Ascot Christmas Raceday
• Cost:  From £30 per adult (children are free)

As well as racing, there’s an abundance of seasonal fun with a range of festive entertainment. 

Off the track, there’s an abundance of seasonal fun for all with a range of festive entertainment set to delight racegoers of all ages. The traditional fairground rides and candle-lit carol singing with the Ascot Brass Band remain firmly part of the entertainment, and Father Christmas and his reindeer will be in attendance. 

Daniel Dept Store, 120-124 Peascod Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1DP

• Dates:     weekends in November and December
• Tickets:  Daniel Santa’s Grotto
• Cost:        £15 per child (includes small gift and photo)

Father Christmas is visiting Daniel’s again this year. So, come along and meet him in his cosy festive sitting room in the Christmas Department, have a quick chat and receive a small present. 

Newbury Methodist Church, Northbrook Street, Newbury

• Dates:   Sunday 15^th December 2024
• Tickets:  n/a
• Cost:        free

Soak up the atmosphere and watch the hundreds of twinkling lanterns as the procession travels through Newbury town centre in our popular, annual Festival of Light.
The procession will travel along Northbrook Street before arriving in the Market Place with live music and a festive atmosphere.

The candle-lit procession starts at 4.30pm.

Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Road, Winkfield Row, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BD

• Dates: Nov/Dec 2024
• Tickets: Lapland UK
• Cost:  Unfortunately, Lapland has already sold out, but you can register for cancellations.

One of the most spectacular Christmas events in Berkshire is at Lapland UK.

Firstly, this Christmas-themed interactive experience will take you to the Enchanted Forest, Santa’s toy factory, Mother Christmas’ kitchen and the Elven Village.  Here, kids will love building toys, ice-skating and meeting huskies, before a private audience with Father Christmas himself.

4 Kingdoms Adventure Park, Newbury Road, Headley, Hampshire, RG19 8JY

• Dates:     selected dates from 23rd November 2024
• Tickets:  The Magical Christmas Adventure
• Cost:        £40 per child (+ £30 for accompanying adult)

The award-winning Christmas adventure offers a magical experience which lasts 2.5 hours.  This interactive experience will immerse you in fun at the North Play as you embark on this walking tour.  At Santa’s cabin, children will get to meet Santa and can choose a toy from his shop.

Jubilee Square, Eton, near Windsor, Berkshire

• Dates:  14 November 2024
• Map:  available from Eton information centre
• Cost:  free

Celebrate Christmas in Eton with food stalls, funfair rides, music, dancing and all the fun of Christmas! Kicking off at Jubilee Square from 5pm.

The Chapel service starts at 6pm followed by a Christmas procession with Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Watch the Christmas lights switch-on in Jubilee Square at 7pm.

Legoland®, Winkfield Road, Windsor, SL4 4AY

• Dates:    23^rd November – 4^th January 2025
• Tickets:  Legoland at Christmas
• Cost:     From £29 pp (+ additional ticket to see Santa)

Our festive event transforms the Park into a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, snow dusted trees, and of course…a sprinkling of LEGO® magic!

Join us as we celebrate the most special time of the year with LEGOLAND® at Christmas.  We have over 25 Rides, LIVE shows and attractions for you to enjoy with the whole family!

Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1NJ

• Dates:  From 22nd December 2024
• Tickets:  Christmas at Windsor Castle
• Cost:      Included in your castle admission ticket

Drop by the Castle’s Learning Centre to hear all about a Victorian Christmas and make a memento to take home, such as a tree decoration, a wreath or an angel, just as Victorian children may have made. You can also devise your own Christmas menu for Queen Victoria and her family to enjoy on Christmas Day or dress up as an elegant Victorian stepping out on Christmas morning. 

Winter Wonderland, Hills Meadow, Reading, RG4 8DH

• Dates:    9^th November 2024 – 5^th January 2025  (10am – 10 pm)
• Tickets:  Reading Winter Wonderland
• Cost:       Free entry and several ticket options available, (£46 for family ice-skating or £80 unlimited ride pass)

Discover a wide range of attractions, activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages including a Bavarian slide, an undercover ice skating rink, Santa’s grotto and a wide variety of festive food and drinks.

Windsor Great Park, Wick Lane, Englefield Green, TW20 0UU

• Dates:   15^th November 2024 – 4^th January 2025 (4.30-10pm)
• Tickets:  Illuminated at Great Windsor Park
• Cost:       from £56.10 (family of four) + car park

One of our favourite Christmas events in Berkshire is Illuminated at Windsor Great Park. 

Join family and friends for a magical evening as the woodland and water of Windsor Great Park come alive with dazzling lights, dancing stars and breath-taking projections. 

Opening on Thursday 15 November, this very special light trail returns to light up the festive season bigger, better and more dazzling than ever with a brand new trail design and spectacularly re-imagined installations.

Spectacle of Light, Welford Park, Welford, Newbury, RG20 8HU

• Dates:    18^th October – 10^th November 2024 (selected evenings)
• Tickets:  Spectacle of Light at Welford Park
• Cost:       From £59.40 (family of four)

Wellington Country Park, Riseley, Berkshire, RG7 1SP

• Dates:  22^nd November – 23^rd December 2024
• Tickets:  Neverland Illuminova
• Cost:        £80 (family of four)   You can get discounts with an annual pass.

Embark on a journey through the illuminated paths and let the enchanting lights spark your creativity and transport you to a realm where dreams come to life.

Experience the illuminated night trail that never grows old. Limited slots offer a truly bespoke experience.

Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD

• Dates:  Friday 29^th November – Sunday 5^th December 2025
• Tickets:  Corn Exchange, Newbury
• Cost:   From £17.25 pp

You can expect all of the usual Newbury pantomime fun, with toe-tapping tunes from across the decades, plenty of magic and sparkle, and, of course, lots of laughter – purrfect for the whole family. 

Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Berkshire, SL4 1PS

• Dates:   22^nd November 2024 – 12^th January 2025
• Tickets:  Dick Whittington at Theatre Royal Windsor
• Cost:       From £18.50

Expect traditional pantomime comedy capers, dazzling dancers, colourful costumes and a sprinkling of magic as we join Dick Whittington to see if the streets of London really are paved with gold…

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4PF

• Dates:   Tuesday 28^th November – Saturday 28^th December 2024
• Tickets:  Pinocchio at Norden Farm
• Cost:        From £14 pp

Visit the incredible world of Stuff and Nonsense as they bring Pinocchio to our stage for Christmas 2024.  Three very funny men seek refuge in a grand but abandoned old house – one of them is Pinocchio and it turns out he’s had quite a life!

South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA

• Dates:     Friday 29^th November – Saturday 5^th January 2025
• Tickets:  Robin Hood and the Magic Arrow at South Hill Park
• Cost:       From £22.50 pp

This Christmas, a legend will be born on the Wilde Theatre stage. Our award-winning pantomime returns with Robin Hood and the Magic Arrow – full of all the mayhem and merriment you’ve come to expect.

What are your favourite things to do in Berkshire at Christmas?  We’d love to hear your comments below.

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