Christmas and Winter

Christmas and Winter is a great time to visit Weston-super-Mare. There's so much going on including our fantastic carnival, Fireworks At Sea, our enchanting Glow Festival and a twilight tobogganing experience which was featured in the Guardian newspaper's Winter Wonderlands top-ten family activity days and adventures in the UK. And, if that's not enough, we've also got Icescape - a huge undercover ice rink which attracted 80,000 skaters last year!

Our fabulous countryside walks take on a different look and we've got some super-cosy self-catering accommodation where you can snuggle up in the warm and enjoy that comforting winter break.

The shorter daylight hours are no problem either, because Weston comes alive at night with two mainstream theatres and a further two fringe theatres, a vibrant live music scene, emerging comedy circuit and pubs and restaurants to suit every taste.

Weston Carnival

The 2024 Weston Carnival on Friday, November 8, is the highlight of the year for many Westonians. It forms part of Somerset’s fortnight-long carnival season and is ranked as the largest illuminated procession in the world.

Fireworks At Sea

The 2024 Fireworks at Sea event takes place on Friday 25 October 2024. It is a massive freebie for the town from the Grand Pier and the display can be seen from anywhere on the seafront. But for the best views and an extended evening with rides and all the pier's attractions thrown in, it's best to buy a ticket to be on the pier itself for that extra special evening.

Christmas Lights Switch On

Weston's Christmas lights will officially be switched on on Saturday, November 23, 2024 in the Italian Gardens in an event which coincides with the eat: Weston festive food festival which is also happening in the Winter Gardens. 

Ice Skating 

Nothing screams winter fun and the run up to the festive holiday more than ice skating and here in Weston-super-Mare we've got Icescape the Uk's largest undercover ice rink at The Tropicana from November 1, 2024 until January 5, 2025 where there's space for 400 skaters all to be on the ice at one time!

Christmas Pantomime

Who doesn't love a Christmas panto? It's for little kids and great big adult grown up kids everywhere. It's the ultimate Christmas family treat. And here in Weston we've struck gold this year with Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters (Gwen) starring alongside Milkshake's Derek Moran and Weston panto favourite Michael Goble in Beauty And The Beast at the Playhouse. In addition to the panto there's plenty of other Christmas shows at The Playhouse.

If you’re looking for something a bit more intimate, check out The Theatre in The Hut, Weston’s very own 58-seat theatre which is exactly what it says on the tin – a theatre in a hut! It is hosting Jack and The Beanstalk from December 11 to 14.

Christmas Light's seafront spectacular

The spectacular 2024 Vee Dub Cruz event which takes place on December 15 has to be seen to be believed. It is an amazing Christmas light show from a cavalcade of more than 150 Volkswagen vehicles all decorated with Christmas lights tinsel, baubles and Christmas trees processing through the town to the seafront in a spectacular Vee Dub Cruz. Many will be carrying Santa Claus passengers as they make their way along the route from the Queensway Retail car park, heading out through Worle, along to the Boulevard and up to the sea front before parking up on Marine Parade. And yes, we know the map below says 2023 but it's the same route.

Twilight Toboganning

We can't promise you a White Christmas snow but the Mendip Outdoor Activity Centre has the next best thing. Their award-winning Twilight Tobogganing experience is back again this year from 8th November 2024 to 5th January 2025. It's a magical experience under 10,000 twinkling fairy lights and lasers while a Hollywood-style snow machine adds to the festive atmosphere. The fun doesn't stop there! After your tobogganing session, you'll  sit under canopies, around a camp fire where you'll roast marshmallows and light sparklers. There's also plenty of other winter sports at the centre which has its own ski slope where you can book skiing or snowboarding lessons, if you need them, or just take to the slopes yourself. 

Winter Wonderland 

Wookey Hole's famous caves are transformed each December into Wookey's Winter Wonderland with more than 100,000 festive lights creating a magical experience. There is also a Christmas-themed circus show to keep you entertained. This year's 2024 event starts on November 23 and you can also meet Santa in his grotto.

Turkey and Tinsel

Christmas comes early on a traditional Turkey & Tinsel break in Weston-super-Mare, with everything you’d expect from a seaside town plus a big Happy Christmas thrown in. Turkey and Tinsel is a tradition in Weston with coach companies across the UK organising these pre-Christmas festive trips where guests get festive entertainment, Christmas dinner and mulled wine all gift wrapped together. The Grand Atlantic is among the Weston hotels offering these trips. You can book on a coach trip or arrive under your own steam and book through the hotel. Their 2024 Tinsel and Turkey trips start on November 4 when the Christmas decorations will be up and the party will begin.

Adrenaline-fuelled Santas

There’s a Santas on the Run charity event at Charlton Farm in nearby Wraxall on Sunday, December 8, 2024 when you can dress up as your favourite Christmas character and join hundreds of other Santas having great fun whilst supporting a good cause. Alternatively, if you want to know how Santa gets down all those chimneys there's the annual St Margaret’s Hospice Santa Abseil down Cheddar Gorge on December 1, 2024 that may possibly provide some clues. 

Boxing Day Race 

Work off that Christmas dinner and extra helping of Christmas pud by lacing up your running shoes and taking part in the Clevedon traditional Boxing Day Run The Junior 3km race starts at 10:15am and the Senior 4 Mile Race  at 11:00am both from the The Little Harp, Elton Road, Clevedon, BS21 7RH

New Year's Day Dip

Want something feeling even colder? Then why not burn off some of those extra Christmas pounds by taking part in the annual New Year’s Day Dip in the sea at nearby Clevedon at 11am? 

Christmas Fairs and Markets

We haven’t forgotten the traditional stuff either. We’ve got Christmas fayres, markets and bazaars coming out of our ears as well as carol services in the town centre, car parks and indoors. Check them out in our what's on calendar which we will be adding to throughout the year.

We know the build up to Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year so bookmark this page and  keep coming back to us throughout the year as we add more and more events to this page and our What's On section to make Christmas 2024 even more special for you. And if you want to add a Christmas event of your own, take advantage of the submit event section of our website to let everyone know about your plans.

Snuggle up in one of our cosy cottages

Make a real break of it and snuggle up in one of our cosy self-catering cottages.