With just over a month until the big day, it’s time to start planning your Christmas fun – with days out and some fantastic Christmas events to get you feeling all warm and festive.
With magical forests and gorgeous scenery, the New Forest is the perfect place to spend time in the lead up to Christmas.
Here are some of the Christmas event highlights and festive days out in the New Forest that you can enjoy:
Step back in the past for a Victorian Christmas
Ignite your Christmas spark with festive fun at Beaulieu! Experience the beauty of a Victorian Christmas in Palace House with sparking decorations and costumed characters.
Take part in fun-filled activities in Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum, and you may even catch Father Christmas driving around in a vehicle from the museum! There’s lots for all the family to see and do here this Christmas.
Image - National Motor Museum Beaulieu
Enjoy a New Forest Christmas shopping experience
Get your Christmas shopping wrapped up early with the Furlong Late Night Christmas shopping event in Ringwood on Thursday 30 November. Shops will be open until 8pm and offering exclusive discounts, fashion shows and giveaways. Pop along for a glass of mulled wine and listen to live music from the community choirs.
Families will also love the free Snow Globe photo experience open 2pm-8pm; step inside the giant inflatable snow globe with eco-friendly snow and a professional photographer. You will receive a code for your free digital photo as a keepsake or to make your Christmas cards with.
Image - The Furlong Shopping Centre
Tea with Santa, Christmas lunches and much more at Fairweathers Garden Centre
There’s plenty going on at Fairweathers Garden Centre in the lead up to Christmas.
Little ones will love Tea with Santa. Aimed at 3-8 year olds, enjoy a story from Santa, afternoon tea, Christmas activities and receive a cuddly hand warmer to take home. All this for just £20 per child (runs selected dates in December).
Throughout December, there will also be a festive trail running through Patrick’s Patch and on three dates (21,22 and 23 December) children can make a Christmas decoration using natural products in the Potting Shed.
In addition to this, Christmas lunches with all the trimmings will be served up from 27 November-22 December.
Sing-along-a-jingle at Sandy Balls Forest of Light
Gather the family and join Sandy Balls Holiday Village for festive singalong favourites around the Forest of Light tree followed by the count down to the illumination switch. Grab a hot chocolate, wander through thousands of twinkling lights in the heart of Sandy Balls and watch out for flurries of snowfall!
Singalong-a-jingle takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 4pm between 3 November-31 December. Forest of Light illumination trail open daily from 4pm-9pm. Please note, these events are for guests staying at Sandy Balls.
Image - Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Follow some illuminated trails
Feel all magical by booking onto some of the illuminated trails taking place near the New Forest.
Glow Marwell sees Marwell Zoo’s grounds transform with more than 500,000 colourful lights. This year's theme is an enchanted nature trail featuring brand new illuminations and immersive displays. Father Christmas will also be making his Glow Marwell debut, spreading some seasonal cheer in his festive grotto.
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is also set to light up again with the return of their illuminated trail. Immerse yourself in a truly unforgettable, magical light trail experience like no other, for the whole family!
See Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World transformed for Christmas
On selected dates from 2-23 December, Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World will be transformed into festive scenes. Hop abord some of the rides, watch Santa’s Christmas Wish Show and see and hear the magical Christmas Wish Tree. Just some of the many things taking place across the park.
Image - Paultons Park
Join some of our New Forest hotels for some festive fun
Some of our New Forest hotels will be hosting some seasonal events throughout the lead up to Christmas.
Forest Park Country Hotel & Inn has an extensive events programme throughout December including five different festive tribute shows with festive dinners including Michael Bublé (2 December) and Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees (15 December) to name a few. Added to this, the hotel will be serving up festive dinners including on Christmas Day and a New Year’s Gala dinner on 31 December.
Stanwell House Hotel will be starting their festive set menu from 1 December and also have a fantastic New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery planned.
Try some French-style festive dining at Le Blaireau at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa or some pre-Christmas dining at The Terrace Restaurant at the luxury Montagu Arms.
Image - Le Blaireau, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa
Find out more about what’s on
This is just a selection of what’s taking place in the lead up to Christmas. Take a look at our Christmas page for seasonal workshops, other dining experiences and adventures for all the family. We strongly advise you to pre-book any events/activities to avoid disappointment but most of all, we hope you make amazing memories this Christmas here in the New Forest!