In Inspiration

As the Christmas lights twinkle and Festive Vibes fill the city, it's time to get together for fun with friends and family. Here's our round-up of the best events you can enjoy in the city this winter season!

22 November – 30 December: Leonardslee Lights

Explore the wonder of Leonardslee’s woodland gardens awash with light, sound and colour. Bigger, better, and even more magical than before! Leonardslee Lights is set to bring a fun winter experience for the whole family.

23 November – 23 December: Here Comes Santa Paws: Wild Christmas Magic is coming to Drusillas!

The highly in-demand Santa experience includes a personal one-to-one with Santa - who is renowned among visitors as the most realistic Santa in the South! - photo opportunity, and a magical Christmas gift. Tickets for Santa’s Grotto are now available online via Drusillas' online booking system - and some dates are already sold out!

28 November – 1 January: Glow Wild at Wakehurst

Sussex's award-winning lantern trail offers unforgettable "wow moments" for the whole family with a new route, exclusive art installations, and a magical Christmas Eve date. Discover an immersive, interactive trail of hand-crafted lantern displays and bespoke light installations by leading artists, inspired by the hidden world of trees.

30 November – 15 December: Artist Open Houses Winter

The Winter Artists Open Houses will be here again this festive season, with over 50 houses to explore right across Brighton & Hove and beyond. For three weekends, the whole city will be coming alive with arts, crafts and seasonal gifts, displayed in a vast array of artists’ and makers’ own homes and studios. 

30 November – 24 December: Father Christmas at the Royal Pavilion

Meet Father Christmas in the Adelaide Room at the Royal Pavilion in his magical grotto. Entry slots before 4.30 pm include a puzzle trail around the Royal Pavilion to be enjoyed before your visit to the Grotto. 

30 November – 24 December: Santa in the Sky – Brighton i360 

For a truly magical experience this Christmas, meet Santa and his elves in the sky at Brighton i360 throughout the Festive Season! Enjoy a 25 minute festive pod journey, meet and greet with Santa and your ticket includes a gift.

Selected dates between 30 November - 31 December: Preston Manor Mince Pie Mystery

A Christmassy crime has been committed at Preston Manor – one rogue elf has smashed open Mrs Claus’ treasured biscuit tin and run off with all the mince pies! The elf community of the manor is in an uproar, so you and your fellow Mince Spy Specialists have been called in to investigate and uncover what happened to restore justice and pastry.

1, 8, 15 December: Santa’s Grotto at Shelter Hall

Step into the magic of Christmas at Shelter Hall as they transform into a winter wonderland with their very own Santa’s Grotto! Take the little ones for a magical meet-and-greet with Santa Claus himself, right by the seaside in Brighton.

3 December: Candle Making Workshop at Rockwater

Join a cosy candle-making workshop hosted by ‘Pliers and Prosecco’. Guests will immerse themselves in the festive spirit, enjoying complimentary mince pies while creating their own Christmas candles using classic seasonal fragrances.

4 December: Toddler Christmas Party at Out of Bounds

Enjoying soft play, bowling, and clip ‘n climb along with Christmas music to sing along to! You and your mini-mayhem maker can enjoy a game of bowling or scale new heights as your little adventurer enjoys a Clip 'n Climb session. With over 15 climbing structures and specific toddler harnesses, they will feel like they have conquered Mount Everest.

4 – 5 December: The Flour Pot Christmas Market

With some fantastic local businesses taking part this year, selling everything from wreaths to locally made food, drink, jewellery and more! Perfect for your Christmas shopping. They'll also be serving up food specials from their kitchen, mulled wine, and delicious Christmas cocktails, with plenty of Flour Pot treats to tuck into of course.

5 – 21 December: Komedia Christmas Party

Join Komedia in December, as their resident sell-out comedy club is transformed into a month-long run of festive parties. Perfect for small or large groups, celebrate with your friends and work colleagues with great food, award-winning comedy, and music and dancing until late.

5 – 8, 12 – 15 and 19 – 22  December: Brighton Winter Fayre

Head to the Brighton Winter Fayre, held over three long weekends in December for a cool mix of creative workshops, live performances, music nights, cabaret, children’s activities, a makers market plus free festive entertainment in the main Square, all delivered with a unique Brighton twist! From daytime adventures for kiddos and families to after-work drinks and nights out for grown-ups, they’ve got it all!

7 & 8, 11 – 23 December: Brighton Lights at One Garden Brighton

Explore a light trail beyond the walled garden, through Stanmer’s famous orchard, and for the first time ever—walk through the beautifully illuminated Palm House. Secure your tickets now for this unforgettable winter experience.

7 - 8, 14 – 15, and 21 - 22 December: Christmas Wine Tasting Weekends at Albourne

Albourne will have every bottle across their range open for you to sample, so you can make the best possible choice for your Christmas wines and gifts. Their team will be on hand to offer guidance and advice. You can browse their wine gift packaging and gift ideas, including experience vouchers and miniatures of Albourne 40 Vermouth (the perfect stocking filler!).

12 – 14 December: Royal Pavilion Christmas Banquets

The Royal Pavilion invites you to celebrate Christmas in regal splendour. Join them for a drinks and canapé reception in the palace’s historic Great Kitchen, followed by a musical interlude in the spectacular Music Room, before taking seats for a three-course dinner with wine in the magnificent setting of the Banqueting Room.

14 December: A Christmas Carol Drone Light Show

Witness Charles Dickens’ timeless Christmas classic come to life in the night sky for a captivating new 45-minute animated drone light show display, narrated by Matt Lucas. Enjoy magic in the sky, festive favourites in the food village and a world-class stadium experience where every seat is a front row view to the world’s biggest stage – the sky.

17 – 18 December: Elf the Musical at the Brighton Centre 

The stage show ‘Elf The Musical’, features Santa’s magical flying sleigh, an audience snowball fight, a giant candy cane journey from the North Pole, amongst many spectacular scenes all set against amazing video-film backdrops on a large LED screen.

17 December – 5 January 2025: 101 Dalmatians the Musical at Theatre Royal Brighton

This classic canine caper is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, witty songs and irresistible puppies! When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups.

20 December: ORGANOKE at Brighton Dome

A new Christmas tradition is born! The unforgettable Christmas karaoke experience returns. Sing your heart out to karaoke Christmas classics with the star of the show – Brighton Dome's organ – and a full live band.

21 December: Burning of the Clocks

Burning the Clocks is a unique community event held on the 21st of December, created by Same Sky, that brings the whole city together to mark the shortest day of the year. Local people make their own paper and willow lanterns, using Same Sky's kits, and after parading through the city, they pass them into a blazing bonfire on Brighton beach, as a token of the year’s end.

Throughout November & December until 5 January: Royal Pavilion Ice Rink

Celebrate a greener Christmas this year with the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink. Stunning, twinkly, romantic, child-friendly...and ice powered entirely by Green Energy, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is the perfect get-together location, with warming hot chocolates and food being served, it is the perfect place to soak up the festive atmosphere. 

Throughout December: Brighton Heist Escape Challenge

Meet heist mastermind Black Cat near the big bank you have just robbed in Brighton. He has remotely disabled the alarms, but only for one hour. One more thing...your gang is splitting into two teams with similar but not identical routes around the city, and with the same goal.

Various Dates Available: Community Kitchen - Cooking Celebrations

Hire the Community kitchen for your Christmas party this year. Their experienced Cookery Leaders will guide you through some amazing foodie fun and feasting to ensure it is a memorable one. They offer a welcome glass of fizz on arrival (BYOB for more later!), expert cookery class tuition and plenty of time to relax and enjoy your creations around their shared dining table.

Throughout December: Level up your office Christmas party with SHOWGAME – the ultimate team gameshow experience!

If you're looking for an immersive, inclusive, and hilarious experience for the whole team, let the fabulous SHOWGAME hosts, Bruce and Fern, guide your team on a voyage through the gameshow universe, competing in a range of exciting and personalised rounds to decide who will be the SHOWGAME champions!

Throughout December: Join Snowy at SEA LIFE Brighton this Christmas!

Join Snowy for a special arctic Christmas adventure to learn about the amazing North Pole and the animals that live there. Snowy is inviting children and their families to take part in an interactive trail through the aquarium as you meet all their jaw-some creatures along the way.

Throughout December: Celebrate while enjoying drinks and a fun round of mini golf at GLOBALLS

Searching for the ideal place to celebrate while enjoying drinks and a fun round of mini golf? The festive UV-lit Jurassic Wonderland at GLOBALLS is the answer. Putt your way around the course with a drink in hand and a little holiday cheer! Christmas packages from £16 per person including a drink and reindeer ears. 

From childhood favourites like visits to Santa, to sumptuous banquets in Brighton's very own Regency palace, Brighton is bringing you all the festive vibes this Christmas!

Caroline

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