Serviced Accommodation Bristol > Bristol local information > Events December2009
Major Events, Exhibitions,Theatre, Music & Panto
Major Events
Major Events
4 – 6 December
Castle by Candlelight
Berkeley Castle
One of the Castle's best loved and most popular events. Visitors have an opportunity to explore a real Norman Castle by candlelight and flickering fires, decorated traditionally throughout with Christmas greenery.
5 December – 10 January 2010
Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition
Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery
One of the world’s most prestigious photography exhibitions - the Wildlife Photographer of the Year - is back at Bristol’s City Museum this winter
11 December
‘Santa’s Slay’ at Avon Valley Railway
Avon Valley Railway
A special Christmas murder mystery on board the railway.
Until 26 December
Enchanted Christmas
Westonbirt Arboretum
Take a walk through the famous Enchanted Wood and see The National Arboretum lit up at night. See Father Christmas plus lots of other festive excitement
Until 20 December
German Christmas Market
Quaker’s Friars and Broadmead
The pedestrianised streets in Broadmead and Quaker’s Friars will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive period.
Until 3 January 2010
Santaland
Wookey Hole Caves
Meet the elves and a host of other magical characters in the wonderful world of Santaland.
Until 6 January 2010
Winter Wonderland
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway
Featuring a large outdoor ice rink, a Santa’s Castle where children can meet Father Christmas and a traditional Christmas market.
Family Fun
5 & 12 December
A Victorian Christmas!
Brunel’s s.s. Great Britain
Turn back the clocks with Dickensian festive fun. Carols, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, with gorgeous gift making, plus Father Christmas.
12 December
Sail with Santa
Bristol Ferryboat Company
Step aboard Santa’s twinkling Christmas Ferry Sleigh and take a magical cruise around Bristol harbour. Pre-booking essential.
12 – 13, 19 – 23 December
Santa’s Grotto
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Visit Santa in his magical grotto and hear all about his festive antics. Each child will receive a personalised gift.
27 – 28 December
Sherry and Mince Pie Special Train Journeys
Avon Valley Railway
Why not take the family for a relaxing trip on the Avon Valley Railway.
Ongoing
Animate It!
Explore-At-Bristol
The interactive exhibition has been developed in association with Aardman Animations. Create your own animations and broadcast them via a new interactive website. Also see the set from Aardman’s latest Wallace & Gromit animation, A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Until 31 December
Canoe Safari
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
Take to the water to discover a wetland trail rich in native plant species and wildlife. Pick up a paddle and step into a canoe for a wonderful wetland adventure.
Theatre, Music & Art
1 – 6 December
Lord of the Dance
The Bristol Hippodrome
Since its world premiere, Lord of the Dance has become the most talked about and the most acclaimed show in musical history.
2 – 13 December
Mrs Gerrish’s Christmas Stockings
Tobacco Factory
An unexploded bomb forces Mrs Gerrish to evacuate her fully-booked guesthouse just before Christmas. A gloriously chaotic Christmas Day is guaranteed.
4 December – 23 January 2010
Hansel & Gretel
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
A tender, tasty and terrifying re-telling of the classic story from Kneehigh Theatre
8 December
Rob Brydon
Colston Hall
Rob Brydon comes to the Hall with an evening of brand new, stand up comedy.
11 December – 10 January 2010
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Bristol Hippodrome
A laugh-a-minute script, star cast, lavish costumes and sparkling sets. Snow White has romance, big song and dance numbers and bags of audience participation.
13 December
ESO Christmas Concert
Berkeley Castle
The English String Orchestra’s annual Christmas Concert is one of the highlights of the Castle’s year.
17 December
Only Men Aloud
Colston Hall
The winners of ‘Last Choir Standing’ perform their festive favourites.
19 December
Hayley Westenra Winter Magic Concert
Bristol Cathedral
Until 31 December
Migrations Festival
St George’s Bristol
A unique festival celebrating world music, running throughout 2009 with an impressive line-up of world music artists including Oumou Sangare, Natacha Atlas and Roby Lakatosh.
Until 31 December
Festival of Ideas
Various Venues
Aims to stimulate the minds and passions of the people of Bristol.
Nature
1 – 24 December
Reindeer Trail
Westonbirt Arboretum
Join Santa and help him find his missing reindeer. Also discover the reasons behind many of our festive traditions.
19 December – 3 January 2010
Meet and feed Santa’s reindeer
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Santa’s reindeer, Jingle and Belle return for another year. Children can get up close to the live reindeer and feed them their favourite food.
Special Tours
Ongoing
The Bristol Packet Boat Trips
Wapping Wharf
Take a trip on one of the beautiful boats for a unique tour of Bristol and beyond.
Ongoing
Bristol Ferry Boat Co
Habourside / City Centre
The distinctive yellow and blue boats offer a range of services from within the city limits and out to the countryside beyond:
Markets & Food
Every Wednesday
Bristol Farmers Market
Corn Street
Local producers from a 40-mile radius sell a massive range of food from cheese, fish, honey, cakes and vegetables to meat, game and poultry at this award-winning market.
First Sunday of every month
Slow Food Market
Corn Street
The UK’s first regular Slow Food market has become a monthly treat for lovers of real food. Slow Food embraces the theory of good food production.
