Christmas Events in Reading and Beyond

Christmas Events in and around Reading

Christmas is a magical time of year for all the family and Reading has some of the most wonderful events around. In this handy guide you will find information on lots of local Christmas events along with some slightly further afield that we feel are worth the extra miles. There are festive farms, lights trails, meet and greets with the big man himself and some festive afternoons teas. 

If you have visit any of our festive suggestions do tag us on social media as we love to see your adventures. It’s a ho ho ho and a Merry Christmas from Reading Rocks!!

Once Upon a Time' Illuminated Trail (Ad)

A kilometre-long Illuminated Trail through the lakes and gardens, where you’ll discover the magical creatures and fairy folk who inhabit our favourite ‘Once Upon a Time’ stories. (Ad)

Everyone including our animal friends wish to celebrate at Christmas! They are visiting us at West Green House this Christmas dressed up in their holiday best to greet you and the family. Handlers will be with the animals to assits the children to pet them and enjoy this delightful experience.

Admission to the Petting Zoo is included with the ‘Once Upon a Time’ tickets.

Please pre-book parking with your tickets.

• Dates: Selected dates from the 29th November - 30th December

• Address: West Green House Gardens, Thackham's Ln, West Green, Hook RG27 8JB

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Visit Broad Street Mall Santa's Grotto 2026 (Ad) 

Get ready to experience the magic of Christmas here at Broad Street Mall!

Santa’s sleigh is on its way, and he’s making a very special stop at Central Square to meet lots of excited little shoppers.

From Saturday 21^st November to Thursday 24th December, families can drop in to meet the man in red. No booking needed!

For just £6.50 per child, enjoy a magical meet-and-greet with Santa and receive a special festive gift.

Treasure the memory of meeting Santa forever and purchase photos and keepsakes from your visit separately.

Adding to the festive sparkle, talented local musicians will be performing heart-warming Christmas tunes on selected Saturdays over the festive period. 

Take a moment to pause, sing along, and let the magic of live music make your shopping trip extra special.

Christmas at GolfPlex (Ad) - Awaiting 2026 info

The Santa Session at The Little Play Lounge

A magical festive play session filled with stories, songs and a very special visit from Santa.

Santa is returning to The Little Play Lounge with his favourite elf for a cosy Christmas experience created especially for our littlest visitors.

Enjoy festive play before gathering for a special story and songs with our friendly elf, followed by a visit from Santa and a present chosen with your little one’s age in mind.

At a Glance

When: Weekdays in December
Session: 1 hour 30 minutes
Designed for: Children up to 3.5 years
Includes: Indoor play, elf story and songs, Santa visit and present

What to Expect

• Festive indoor play

• Christmas story and songs with our elf

• A special visit from Santa

• A present for your little one

• Café open for food, treats and hot and cold drinks

To book your tickets click here.

Good to Know

Please enter your child’s correct name and age when booking, as this is used to help us choose their present.

Please arrive promptly for the start of your session. Santa and the elf may appear at different points during each session, so arriving late could mean missing part of the experience.

We ask grown-ups to help little ones settle during the story so everyone can enjoy the moment.

Our café will be open throughout. Outside food, snacks and drinks aren’t permitted.

Wokingham Winter Carnival 

The 2026 Wokingham Winter Carnival will be a FUN day out for the whole family organised by Wokingham Lions. 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.

There are stalls selling gifts too, so why not get your Christmas shopping sorted?

Thanks to our main event sponsor Clifton Ingram! For more information click here.

Christmas at Beale Park (Ad)

This Christmas, Father Christmas will be joining us at Beale Park, and meeting him will be included with your park admission.
We wanted Christmas at Beale Park to feel special, simple and welcoming for families,
without lots of extra charges along the way.

To make a winter visit even easier, we’ll also be offering 15% off admission.
There’s plenty more festive fun still to come, and we’ll be revealing more of what’s planned over the next few weeks.

When will Father Christmas be here?

Father Christmas will be visiting Beale Park on:

• 5–6 December

• 12–13 December

• 19–24 December

He’ll be with us throughout the day on each of these dates, apart from a short lunch break.

There’s no need to rush to see him as soon as the park opens. In fact, if you’d prefer a shorter queue, we’d recommend avoiding 10am – 11am, as this is likely to be one of the busiest times of the day.

Take your time, enjoy the park, and visit Father Christmas when it suits you. To book your tickets click here.

Santa's Chocolate Grotto

You’re invited to join him at his magical Chocolate Workshop in Hurst near Reading, Berkshire.

Step inside our Chocolate Grotto for a festive family adventure packed with chocolate, elves, Santa and plenty of Christmas surprises!

Visit Mrs Claus’ Chocolate Workshop
Meet Mrs Claus and become a chocolatier for the day! Children will make and decorate their very own chocolate bar to take home and enjoy.

Take on Elf Training School
Think you’ve got what it takes to join Santa’s team? It’s time to put those elf skills to the test and see if you can graduate from Elf Training School!

Meet Santa!
After completing your Christmas adventure, it’s time for the moment they’ve been waiting for, a magical visit with Santa himself.

And there’s a cuddly surprise…
Every child will receive a special cuddly present from Santa to take home and remember their magical visit.

Chocolate. Elves. Santa. Christmas magic. All in one unforgettable experience.

• Date: 12th Dec/13th Dec/19th Dec/20th Dec/21st Dec (time slots from 09.30am - 4pm daily)

• Address: Lea Farm, Lodge Rd, Hurst, Reading RG10 0SS

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Family Christmas Concert

Seasonal music and carols for all the family at our traditional Christmas concert – come and start the festive season with us!
Tickets: £10, free for ages 18 and under.

• Date: Saturday 12th December 4.30 - 6pm

• Address: St John the Baptist Church, Waterloo Road, Crowthorne RG45 7PB

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Carols at the Minster

The concert is performed live by a 16-piece chamber orchestra, supported with full sound production and lighting show. Experience uplifting nostalgia with compositions from your favourite Christmas films, as well as traditional carols and classics to spark your festive spirit, featuring:

• Home Alone

• Elf

• The Holiday

• Love Actually

• The Muppet Christmas Carol

• The Nutcracker

• Harry Potter

• Die Hard 2

• White Christmas

Early Concert

Doors open: 17:15
Show starts: 18:00
Show ends: 19:15

Late Concert

Doors open: 19:45
Show starts: 20:30
Show ends: 21:45

For more information and to book your tickets click here.

Indulge in a magical Afternoon Tea for all the family set in the gorgeous Mansion House this Christmas season. This year, Wokefield will be joined by The Grumpy Green Villain alongside Santa and of course his Elf. A visit and gift for every child is also included in this exciting experience.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

• Festive afternoon tea

• Arts and crafts

• Children's entertainment from The Grumpy Green Villain

• Visit to Santa

• Gift from Santa

PRICES

Adults: £40.00

Children (3-12 years): £30.00

Infants (0-2 years): £20.00

To book your ticket click here.

Legoland at Christmas

Celebrate Christmas at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort with festive fun for the whole family. Packed with magical Christmas activities and memorable experiences including festive live shows, and themed rides, it’s the ultimate destination for a festive family escape.

Elf Training Academy Show
Festival of Flumes Snow
Nutcrackers March Band
Over 20 rides and attractions open

• Dates: Selected dates from 21st Nov to 3rd January

• Address:  LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire,SL4 4AY.

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Hexagon Theatre Beauty and the Beast
Produced by Imagine Theatre Aladdin will feature another dazzling digital set with animated scenes and mesmerising effects, plus all of the ingredients you know and love in a Hexagon pantomime - side-splitting comedy, dazzling costumes and show-stopping musical numbers!

Will Aladdin outwit the wicked sorcerer, claim his fortune, and win the heart of his true love? Join us to find out in a

spellbinding adventure bursting with laughter, wonder, and festive cheer.

Climb aboard the magic carpet and soar into the spectacular world of Aladdin to create unforgettable memories with

friends and family in this fabulous Christmas treat—book your tickets now before they fly out of the door!

• Dates: 5th Dec - Sun 4th Jan

• Address: The Hexagon, Queens Walk, Berkshire RG1 7QF

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Reading's Winter Wonderland 

A full family day out with amusement rides, ice skating rink, Santa's Grotto, fun fair and alpin ski lodges. We'd recommend booking Santa's Grotto and ice skating in advance. Unlimited ride wristbands are £24 per person add ice skating for £5 per person. 

• Dates: 7th November - 3rd January, 11am - 10pm

• Address: Hills Meadow, Reading, RG4 8DH

• Tickets: Find all the details here

Christmas Markets and Fairs:

• South Hill Park Craft and Design Fair, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA. 14th and 15th Nov, 10 - 5pm. Click here for more details.

• Trunkwell House Gift Fayre Beech Hill Road, Reading RG7 2AT. 31st Oct - 1st Nov from 10am – 4pm. Click here for more details. 

• The Herb Farm Christmas Market, Sonning Common. 7th & 8th Nov from 10 - 4pm. For more details click here. 

• Reading Town Hall Christmas Market. 21st Nov from 10.30 - 4.30pm. Click here for all the details.

• Silchester Farm Christmas Market Day, Silchester Farm, Silchester, Reading. 6th December from 11:00–16:00pm. To book your FREE tickets here 

Further afield but that we feel are worth the extra miles…

Chessington Winter Trail

21st Nov - 24th Dec (selected dates) 

Get ready to unwrap the magic of Christmas at Winter’s Tail. Our festive extravaganza is back and brighter than ever before with our brand new Christmas Village, promising a sleigh-full of festive delights for the whole family to enjoy!
 
With the help of our jolly elves step into a world of wonder as you journey through a festive wonderland to meet the big man. Nestled in his cozy grotto, Father Christmas awaits with a twinkle in his eye and a warm smile for every visitor. Then venture through Enchanted Hollow where we’ve heard the Elves, with the help of the friendly animal residents, have set up their Toy Workshop in the underground town! Tickets start from £32pp booked in advance. 

Theme Park & Zoo Tickets and Discounts | Chessington

We hope you’ve found our round up of Christmas inspiration helpful! Let us know where you visit, and tag us in your adventures!

Merry Christmas to you and your families! We hope you have a wonderful festive season back together and enjoy a well deserved break.

Love Reading Rocks xxxx