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🎅 Santa, pantos & Christmas events for children in Bristol (2026)

Bristol’s Christmas mixes home-grown family theatre at the Old Vic, a big Hippodrome panto and steam-train Santa specials at Bitton, with light trails making for magical evenings. The Broadmead Christmas market and city-centre grottos usually open in November, but the popular trails and Santa trains fill fast, so book timed slots early and look out for the quieter relaxed sessions.

Christmas events in and around Bristol

  • Santa Specials
    📅 Sun 22 Nov – Thu 24 Dec · Weekends from 22 Nov, then daily 21-24 Dec; trains at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm
    Santa & Christmas · Bitton

    A 50-minute steam train trip along the Avon valley with a visit from Santa, plus Christmas donkeys to meet at the station.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Cinderella: A Fairytale
    📅 Fri 27 Nov – Sat 2 Jan
    Shows, theatre & panto · Bristol city centre

    A much-loved Bristol-made retelling of Cinderella, full of music, birds and mischief, back in a brand-new production 15 years on.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Wild Lights
    📅 Fri 27 Nov – Wed 23 Dec · Evenings, timed entry from 4.30pm
    Santa & Christmas · Cribbs Causeway

    A brand-new after-dark trail of star arches, neon animals and lanterns, with a lit-up playground and marshmallows over the fire pit.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Snowy Day
    📅 Sat 28 Nov – Sun 3 Jan
    Shows, theatre & panto · Bristol city centre

    A gentle 30-minute show for toddlers based on Ezra Jack Keats' snowy picture book, followed by ten minutes of stay and play.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Little Snowy Hare
    📅 Thu 3 Dec – Sun 3 Jan · Selected dates at 10.30am, 11am and 2.30pm (40 minutes)
    Shows, theatre & panto · Southville

    A gentle 40-minute puppet adventure through the snow as Snowy Hare finds her way home, made for children aged 2+ and their grown-ups.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Sleeping Beauty (Hippodrome pantomime)
    📅 Fri 4 Dec – Sun 3 Jan
    Shows, theatre & panto · Bristol city centre

    Bristol's big Hippodrome panto, with Craig Revel Horwood as the wicked Carabosse and local favourite Andy Ford as Muddles.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Dick Whittington panto at the Redgrave
    📅 Fri 4 Dec – Sun 3 Jan
    Shows, theatre & panto · Clifton

    Dick and his cat Tommy sail to Bristol to seek their fortune and take on Queen Rat in this local family panto, with plenty of songs and jokes.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Home Alone in Concert
    📅 Sun 13 Dec · 2pm
    Music & concerts · City Centre

    Home Alone on the big screen with John Williams' score played live by an orchestra and choir.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Festive Family Gig
    📅 Sat 19 Dec · 10.30am and 12pm (45 minutes)
    Music & concerts · City Centre

    Christmas tunes from the Beacon House Band with props, big singalongs and joining in. Dressing up is encouraged.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Snowman and Paddington Bear's First Concert
    📅 Tue 22 Dec · 2pm (about 1.5 hours)
    Music & concerts · City Centre

    The Mozart Symphony Orchestra plays The Snowman live to the film, plus a narrated Paddington story set to music. Babes in arms go free.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking

Know one that’s missing? It takes a minute, and we check each one before it goes on the map. Add an event

Tips from people who’ve been

  • Book Santa early: the best grotto times often sell out by mid-November.
  • Check what’s included: a gift, a photo, a craft or a story, and whether grown-ups pay too.
  • Ask about quiet or relaxed sessions if loud music, crowds or queues are hard for your child.
  • Weekday visits and the first slot of the day are usually calmer than weekends.
  • Pantos often have relaxed and signed performances: look for them when you book.

Warm indoor places near Bristol for a cold day

Within 25 km: Soft play: 10 · Museum & attraction: 44 · Swimming & leisure: 33 · Trampoline & inflatable park: 2 · Cinema: 8

Other places

Christmas with children 2026: Santa, pantos and lights · See everything on the map