Magic and merriment: Festive celebrations take centre stage
The festive season is fast approaching, and with it the prospect of many special events and activities taking place across the local area to mark this magical time of the year.
Woodlands Retreat B&B is open to guests from near and far keen to sample some of the area’s much-loved festive events.
In this, our latest blog post, we’ve brought together a selection of seasonal events and activities you could experience during a stay here in the heart of the South Downs...*
Shopping opportunities
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a shopping trip to the festive markets, and here in Hampshire we have a whole host of opportunities to find perfect presents for your loved ones...
Widely recognised as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market (Friday 18 November - Thursday 22 December) features wooden chalets inspired by traditional German Christmas Markets. Add in festive lighting, the sound of Christmas carols and the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon drifting in the air and the spirit of Christmas really does take centre stage in the heart of the city.
Meanwhile, Port Solent’s Festival of Christmas on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December features more than 100 market stalls offering an inspiring and uniquely handcrafted range of goods and gifts, along with seasonal food and drink, live music and festive entertainment.
And if sustainability is top of your Christmas list this year, why not pay a visit to White’s Eco Christmas at Gilbert White’s House and Garden is Selborne (Saturday 3 December), where there will be a range of stalls selling beautifully handcrafted sustainable items and the house will be festively decorated, with yuletide performances from Prize Old Mummers and Alton Community Choir in the atmospheric Great Parlour.
Light fantastic
A magical experience for the whole family to enjoy, a number of illuminating light trails and events are coming to Hampshire this Christmas...
Mesmerising light installations are in store at Staunton Farm in Havant, where the Enlightened winter light trail takes centre stage between 1 December and 1 January.
Meanwhile, the award-winning artistic collaboration, Luxmuralis, will be transforming the interior of Winchester Cathedral with stunning sound and light artwork, taking viewers on an uplifting journey in “Star of Wonder” (13-18 Devcember).
And if you’re looking for an evening out with a twist, it’s time to join the Steam Illuminations – Party Mix on The Watercess Line (selected dates during November and December). This is an opportunity for those aged over 18 to experience the Steam Illuminations train with a special DJ set. Thousands of fully controllable colour-mixing LED lights and your LED wristbands will play along with the music, with comical narration from Voiceover Man, as heard on Britain’s Got Talent and X-Factor.
Arts and crafts
If you’re looking to bring out your creative side this Christmas, these upcoming workshops could be just the ticket...
You could pay a visit to the Winchester City Mill to make your own natural festive wreath using all natural materials with Field Farm Project (28 and 29 November),
And you can learn the art of needle felting at Glbert White’s House in Selborne (13 December), as workshop leader Anna McCallion from Quirk and Whimsy shows you how to make a needle felt robin - a perfect Christmas decoration for your home.
Or join local artist Julia Morgan for a fun, festive watercolours workshop in the beautiful setting of Chawton House on Saturday 17 December, where there’s the chance to create a stunning watercolour wreath featuring holly berries, ivy leaves, and frosted pine cones embellished with your choice of gold or silver paint.
Searching for more festive events to explore? Check out these useful links:
Christmas events in Hampshire (Visit Hampshire)
Christmas in Winchester (Visit Winchester)
*Event details correct at time of writing (26 October 2022).