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

Exeter’s Christmas starts in mid-November, when the Cathedral Christmas Market opens on Cathedral Green and the city lights go on, followed by the Winter Wonderland ice rink, grotto and funfair in Northernhay Gardens from 20 November to early January. For theatre there is a choice of pantomimes at the Northcott and the Corn Exchange, and short shows made for young children at the Barnfield and Exeter Phoenix, several with relaxed and BSL performances. Santa grottos at Crealy, Powderham Castle and Wildwood need booking ahead, and the cathedral’s free Nativity needs a ticket too.

Christmas events in and around Exeter

  • Exeter Winter Wonderland
    📅 Fri 20 Nov – Sun 3 Jan · Mon to Thu 11am to 9pm, Fri to Sun 10am to 10pm; closed Christmas Day
    Santa & Christmas · Exeter city centre

    A covered real ice rink with penguin skating aids for children, a Santa's grotto with a gift for every child, a new light trail, a festive funfair with rides for young children, and food stalls.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Sleeping Beauty (Northcott pantomime)
    📅 Fri 27 Nov – Sun 3 Jan · Mostly 7pm weekday evenings to mid-December, then 2pm and 6.30pm shows; 11am and 3pm on 24 and 31 Dec
    Shows, theatre & panto · University of Exeter, Streatham

    Exeter's big traditional pantomime, about 2 hours 20 minutes with an interval.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Christingle Service at Exeter Cathedral
    📅 Sat 28 Nov · 4pm
    Music & concerts · Exeter city centre · Free

    A service aimed at families with young children, telling the Christmas story through popular hymns sung with the cathedral choir.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Christmas at the Castle, Powderham
    📅 Sun 29 Nov – Wed 30 Dec · By day 10am to 4pm on December weekends and selected dates; by night light trail 4.15pm to 8.30pm (last entry 7.30pm). Closed 25 and 26 Dec
    Santa & Christmas · Kenton

    Daytime Christmas shows and circus activities, or an evening light trail round the grounds and lake with the castle lit up. Father Christmas sees children in a 15-minute timed grotto slot with a gift.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Santa in the golden sleigh at Princesshay
    📅 Sun 29 Nov – Sun 20 Dec · Sundays 29 Nov and 6, 13, 20 Dec; Signing Santa Saturdays 5 and 12 Dec 11am to 3pm
    Santa & Christmas · Exeter city centre

    Children queue to sit briefly with Santa in his golden sleigh under the glass canopy and take home a small festive token.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Christmas at Crealy
    📅 Sat 5 Dec – Wed 23 Dec · 5, 6, 12, 13 and 18 to 23 Dec, 10am to 6pm
    Santa & Christmas · Clyst St Mary

    Rides plus festive shows included in the ticket: a Cinderella pantomime, a Christmas singalong, a Sooty show, Santa's Post Office and a farewell parade at 5.30pm. Meeting Santa is an add-on.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Santa's Grotto at Wildwood Devon
    📅 Sat 5 Dec – Wed 23 Dec · 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 22 Dec 10am to 3.30pm; 23 Dec 10am to 1pm
    Santa & Christmas · Ottery St Mary

    A five-minute family visit with Santa at the wildlife park, with a soft toy and a personalised message for each child.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Night at the Museum: Winter Wonders
    📅 Thu 10 Dec · 5.30pm to 7.30pm
    Workshops & crafts · Exeter city centre

    Explore the galleries after dark with torches, make festive decorations, have your face painted and hear winter stories, with Father Christmas wandering the halls.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Pinocchio (Corn Exchange pantomime)
    📅 Sat 12 Dec – Sat 2 Jan · Matinees and some evening shows most days; no shows on Christmas Day
    Shows, theatre & panto · Exeter city centre

    A new family pantomime from the team behind the Corn Exchange's Wizard of Oz, a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Northcott panto.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • Yeti (Quirk Theatre)
    📅 Sun 13 Dec – Sun 27 Dec · 1.30pm and 4pm on 13, 20, 22, 23 and 24 Dec; 1.30pm only on 21 and 27 Dec
    Shows, theatre & panto · Exeter city centre

    A family adventure with puppetry, projection and original music, in which a band of explorers goes looking for the Yeti after socks go missing.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • The Exeter Nativity
    📅 Sun 13 Dec · 3pm to 4pm
    Santa & Christmas · Exeter city centre · Free

    A retelling of the Christmas story in the cathedral, with real alpacas.

    🎟️ Tickets & booking
  • A (little) Christmas Carol
    📅 Thu 17 Dec – Tue 29 Dec · Mostly 10.30am, 2pm and 4pm on 17, 19, 21 to 24 and 27 to 29 Dec
    Shows, theatre & panto · Exeter city centre

    A one-hour, three-actor retelling of Dickens made for children aged 3 to 8, the Northcott's Christmas show for little ones, and a good first theatre trip.

    🎟️ 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 Exeter for a cold day

Within 20 km: Soft play: 3 · Museum & attraction: 14 · Swimming & leisure: 16 · Trampoline & inflatable park: 1 · Cinema: 3

Other places

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