Christmas countdown
30th September 2026
Thursford Christmas Spectacular, 2025
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It is also the busiest. With the sound of jingle bells on the horizon, it’s not too early to book your festive fun. From a kitchen disco to a high-flying pantomime, Harriet Cooper brings you the definitive Christmas planning guide. We’d hate for you to miss out! Oh yes we would…
HOLKHAM HALL BY CANDLELIGHT
29 November – 30 December
Holkham’s annual candlelight tour transforms the Palladian hall into an immersive wonderland, when each State Room takes on its own persona inspired by nature, fairytales and celebration. This year, expect a secret winter garden, an underwater kingdom, a circus spectacular and, for the first time ever, a boogie. A new collaboration with Dr Peter Lovatt, aka Doctor Dance, will see visitors finish their visit in disco style in the Old Kitchen, where they’ll be encouraged to learn a dance and embrace the seasonal cheer. Guests visiting before Christmas will enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz and a mince pie, included in the ticket price (except certain dates where refreshments are not included). Visitors can choose between a self-guided experience, allowing them to explore the Hall at their own pace, or a guided tour.
FESTIVE WORKSHOPS AT WOLTERTON HALL
1 and 3 December
Wolterton Hall is magical at any time of the year, but even more so when fires roar in grates and Christmas lights twinkle. Soak up the bonhomie at one of the festive workshops taking place this year. Having guests round and wanting to impress them with culinary sparkle? If so, join French chef Loïc Malfait on 1 December (10am to 1pm) for a Christmas Canapé Making Demonstration, where you’ll learn to create delicious savoury bites. On 3 December (10am to 2pm), florist Harriet Aitken will be leading a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop in the Marble Hall, taking you through the process of making your own wreath using fresh flowers and foliage, cones, berries and velvet ribbons. Finish off with a glass of something special and for those who would like to, a private tour of the Hall and gardens.
THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
10 November – 23 December
You’ll be hard pushed to find anything as effervescent as the Thursford Christmas Spectacular. This three-hour spectacle fizzes with energy, a nonstop extravaganza of singing, dancing, music, comedy and speciality acts, performed on a 130ft stage with a 32-piece orchestra. Now in its 49th year, the showstopping production has been named the Best Christmas Experience in the country for the third consecutive year. Though the 2026 acts have yet to be announced at the time of going to press, we do know that the quick-witted comedian and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett will return to compère. For extra dazzle, add on the Enchanted Journey of Light which will take you past snowclad scenes and Santa’s toy factory to a field of glowing statues outside.
ROARR! FATHER CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
Selected dates from 4 – 23 December
Even the T-Rex will need to get into the festive spirit this December, with the return of Father Christmas at ROARR! – the UK’s largest dinosaur-themed adventure park in Lenwade. Start your yuletide adventure with your Passport to the North Pole, before meeting the Candy Cane Elf and enjoying a gingerbread treat. Then you’ll meet Santa himself, before continuing your journey along the Enchanting Winter Trail, finishing off at the Toy Emporium, where every child can choose a special gift to take home. But who says kids should have all the fun? Bark in the Dark allows dogs and their humans to enjoy the festivities, with a visit to FC and pooch-friendly treats; while the Grown-up Grotto includes a festive cocktail, too.
CINDERELLA AT PRINCESS THEATRE, HUNSTANTON
5 December – 3 January
It’s panto season, oh yes it is, and Princess Theatre in Hunstanton is bringing the fairy godmother of all pantomimes to the stage this Christmas with Cinderella. As the classic rags-to-riches folk tale unfurls (wicked stepsisters, ugly sisters, a dashing prince, a pumpkin-carriage, the ball, midnight, a glass slipper, the royal wedding), expect glittering dance numbers, spectacular special effects, toe-tapping songs and laughs galore. Not forgetting plenty of audience participation – is it even a panto without everyone shouting “behind you”? – and a liberal sprinkling of fairy dust. With a stellar cast – including Italia Conti graduate Lucy Galloway in the titular role – you’ll have a ball.
NORFOLK LIGHTS EXPRESS, NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY
14 November – 3 January
Steam into the Christmas season with North Norfolk Railway. The heritage line, which runs along the Sheringham coastline before turning inland through the countryside between Weybourne and Holt, brings all the festive feels, kicking off with the return of the popular Norfolk Lights Express. This year, the illuminated train will take passengers on a journey ‘Around the World’ with displays celebrating Diwali to Christmas and thousands of twinkling lights on the exterior of each carriage illuminating the scenery outside. Younger visitors might prefer to hop aboard the Santa Special Steam Train, which will operate on weekends from 21 November to 13 December and daily from 19 to 23 December; following the magical journey, complete with refreshments, balloon modellers and magicians, meet Santa at Weybourne.
PETER PAN AT NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
5 December – 3 January
The boy who never grew up swoops into Norwich Theatre Royal for a new twist on J.M Barrie’s classic pirate adventure. The All New Adventures of Peter Pan promises to be a crowd-pleaser, blending all the childlike wonder of the original with plenty of magic, mischief and mayhem. Joe Tracini returns, both as script writer and starring as Smee, while Karl Queensborough – also a Norwich favourite – treads the boards as dastardly villain Captain Hook. Milo Clarke (Casualty) plays PP, Kerry Ingram (Game of Thrones) is Wendy and panto dame Quinn Patrick dons a pair of fairy wings as Tink! Gather your crew and book tickets before it’s too late. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
SLEEPING BEAUTY AT KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE
8 December – 3 January
A superb cast, live music, inventive script, slapstick comedy and whizzy special effects… Sleeping Beauty at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange has all the panto tickboxes. Promising to be a theatrical treat for all the family, this vibrant, laugh-out-loud production is the perfect seasonal spirit-lifter as the Princess searches for happiness, Wicked Carabosse searches for revenge, Chester the Jester is searching for someone to laugh at his jokes and Dame Nellie Night Nurse… Well, she’s searching for any man in the front two rows! Can the dashing Prince Valiant step in and save the day before it’s all too late? Traditional entertainment in a traditional theatre, what’s not to love?
www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
For all prices and times, please visit individual websites or social media platforms
