Christmas Holiday Events and Trails
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Need ideas for things to do over the Christmas holidays? You'll find lots of kids parties, special events and festive trails listed below.
FESTIVE TRAILS
THE WALLED GARDEN CHRISTMAS TRAIL
Dates: Saturday 23rd November – Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: The Walled Garden, Station Road, Moreton, Dorset, DT2 8RH
Website: The Walled Garden
MONTY AND MATILDA’S FAMILY QUEST AT CORFE CASTLE
Info: Monty and Matilda are hosting a Christmas party in the castle and need to find suitable gifts for all their mousey friends. Can you help them find some exciting goodies to make it a party to remember? Hunt around the castle ruins to discover the festive cabins and see what Monty and Matilda are buying for their friends. Complete the quest to earn your festive siege coin.
Dates: Wednesday 18th December 2024 – Sunday 12th January 2025
Address: Corfe Castle, Dorset, BH20 5DR
Website: National Trust Corfe Castle
CHRISTCHURCH BIG ELF HUNT
Dates: Saturday 23rd November – Friday 20th December 2024
Address: Christchurch Town
Facebook: Christchurch BID
DURLSTON COUNTRY PARK CRAZY CHRISTMAS TRAIL
Info: Head to the Castle reception to purchase your activity trail booklet. The trail will take you on a trip around the park to complete the tasks and possibly win a prize!
Dates: Wednesday 18th December 2024 – Wednesday 8th January 2025
Address: Durlston Country Park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2JL
Website: Durlston Country Park
GULLIVERS CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL
Dates: From 30th November 2024
Address: Gullivers Farm Shop, Station Road, West Moors, Dorset, BH22 0JG
Website: Gullivers Farm Shop
HIGHCLIFFE CASTLE CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL
Info: The decorated trees will take pride of place in the State Rooms. Younger visitors can enjoy Christmas storytelling and a festive trail which will incorporate the trees contributed by local businesses, charities and individuals to create a delightful experience for all.
Dates: Sunday 1st – Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Highcliffe Castle, Rothesay Drive, Highcliffe, Dorset, BH23 4LE
Website: Highcliffe Castle
A FAMILY CHRISTMAS WISH TRAIL AT KINGSTON LACY
Info: The Wish Makers' wish-converter-5000 (which makes hopes and dreams come true) has backfired and sent wishes flying out into the garden. Each wish is wrapped and ready for Christmas, but can't be sent without its label. Help the Wish Makers match up labels and wishes in time to send them out for Christmas, and don't forget to add your wish to finish off the list.
Dates: Wednesday 18th December 2024 – Sunday 5th January 2025
Address: Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4EA
Website: National Trust Kingston Lacy
KINGSTON MAURWARD ELF TRAIL
Dates: Saturday 23rd November – Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8PX
Website: Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens
MOORS VALLEY CHRISTMAS QUIZ TRAIL
Info: Pick up your quiz sheet from the visitor centre, follow the trail and check your answers at the end of the trail.
Dates: Friday 29th November 2024 - Monday 6th January 2025
Address: Moors Valley Country Park, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, BH24 2ET
Website: Moors Valley Country Park
MUSEUM OF EAST DORSET
Info: The Museum of East Dorset is inviting you to step into the world of Christmas of old! Up until lunchtime Christmas Eve, visit and learn about the traditions of Christmas in Dorset, from glamourous Christmas balls to festive superstitions, musicians and mummers. Follow the wintry trail around the Museum and enjoy a go at festive crafts and activities. Festive dressing up is encouraged!
Dates: Now until Tuesday 24th December 2024
Address: Museum of East Dorset, 23-29 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1HR
Website: Museum of East Dorset
THE OLD THATCH CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL
Info: Collect your trail guide from The Old Thatch and head out along the Castleman Trailway, following the Christmas trails and answering the questions! Finish in Bear Island and receive a sticker, certificate and Christmas decoration.
Dates: Saturday 23rd November 2024 – Sunday 5th January 20025
Address: The Old Thatch, 285 Wimborne Road West, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7NW
Website: The Old Thatch
PORTLAND CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT
Dates: Monday 9th December 2024 – Monday 6th January 2025
Location: TBC
Facebook: Island Community Action
RED HOUSE MUSEUM CHRISTMAS GNOME HOME HUNT
Info: Explore the museum and see how many magical Gnome homes you can find...you might even spot a Christmas Gnome!
Dates: Sunday 15th December 2024 – Saturday 11th January 2025
Address: Red House Museum, Quay Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1BU
Website: Red House Museum
JOIN SNOWY’S CONSERVATION CREW AT SEA LIFE ADVENTURE PARK
Info: Snowy is inviting children and their families to take part in an interactive trail through the aquarium and meet some jaw-some creatures along the way.
Dates: Saturday 30th November 2024 – Wednesday 1st January 2025
Address: SEA LIFE Weymouth, Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7SX
Website: SEA LIFE Weymouth
SOUTHBOURNE CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE TRAIL
Dates: From Monday 9th December 2024
Location: Southbourne High Street
Website: Immanuel Church
FREE TRAIL!
STOUR VALLEY NATURE RESERVE FESTIVE TRAIL
Dates: Weekends through the festive period
Address: Stour Valley Nature Reserve, Granby Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 3NZ
Facebook: Stour Valley Nature Reserve
STURMINSTER NEWTON SNOWMAN TRAIL
Dates: Now until 2nd January 2025
Location: Sturminster Newton Town
Facebook: Stur Action
THORNCOMBE WOODS SING ALONG TRAIL
Info: Pick up a map in the car park or visitor centre, follow the pink and blue way marked trails looking for the lyrics written on hand painted wooden discs hanging in the trees.
Dates: Saturday 14th December 2024 – Monday 6th January 2025
Address: Thorncombe Woods, High Brockhampton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8QH
Facebook: Hardy’s Birthplace
FREE TRAIL!
UPTON COUNTRY PARK ARTIC EXPLORER ADVENTURE TRAIL
Info: Join an Arctic Expedition this festive season to track some special winter visitors around the Country Park. Use your explorer skills to find the expedition hut and receive a cuddly prize at the end!
Dates: Thursday 19th – Tuesday 24th & Friday 27th – Tuesday 31st December 2024
Address: Upton Country Park, Poole Road, Upton, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7BJ
Website: Upton Country Park
BOURNEMOUTH CHRISTMAS TREE WONDERLAND
Dates: Friday 15th November – Tuesday 31st December 2024
Location: Bournemouth Town and Gardens
Website: Christmas Tree Wonderland
FREE EVENT!
POOLE CHRISTMAS MARITIME LIGHT FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday 23 November 2024 - Wednesday 1 January 2025
Location: Poole Town & Quay
Website: Poole Christmas Maritime Light Trail
FREE EVENT!
ILLUMINATE AT ABBOTSBURY GARDENS
Info: An outdoor winter enchanted lights display which is held within the gardens. Colourful lights transform and illuminate the 18th century gardens and create a wonderful winters trail in the dark.
Dates: Friday 29th November 2024 – Saturday 4th January 2025
Address: Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Buller's Way, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4LA
Website: Abbotsbury Tickets
THE ENCHANED NIGHT GARDEN AT MINTERNE HOUSE
Info: Come and see this beautiful stately home lit like you have never seen it before. The gardens will come alive with stunning woodland creatures, even fairies, sprites and the odd dragon are dotted around the stunning light displays to delight all the family.
Dates: Friday 6th December 2024 – Saturday 4th January 2025
Address: Minterne House, Minterne Magna, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7AU
Website: Minterne House
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EVENTS
GUGGLETON FARM ARTS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Date: Saturday 21st December 2024
Address: Guggleton Farm Arts, Station Road, Stalbridge, Dorset, DT10 2RQ
Facebook: Guggleton Farm Arts
THE GREYHOUND INN CHRISTMAS HOE DOWN
Date: Saturday 21st December 2024
Address: The Greyhound Inn, The Square, Corfe Castle, Dorset, BH20 5EZ
Website: The Greyhound Inn
CHRISTMAS BRUNCH WITH THE GRINCH
Date: Saturday 21st December 2024
Address: Upwey Wishing Well, 161 Church Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5QE
Website: Upwey Wishing Well
THE PALM HOUSE CHILDREN’S ART & CRAFT PARTIES
Dates: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: The Palm House, Swannery Lake, Commercial Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7TZ
Facebook: The Palm House
WEYMOUTH SANTA WEEKEND
Info: This weekend is all about Santa! Meet Santa in his Grotto where children can tell him whether they’ve been naughty or nice. Stilt walking elves, elf antics and face painting add some fun to Santa's visit. The weekend will finish with the famous Pudding Run and Chase the Elf on Weymouth Beach.
Date: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December 2024
Location: Weymouth Town
Website: We Are Weymouth
TRAINMASTER EVENTS
Dates: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December 2024
Locations: New Milton, Wimborne & Dorchester
Website: Trainmaster Dorset
MEET SANTA IN THE PARK
Dates: Saturday 21st – Tuesday 24th December 2024
Address: Hamworthy Park, Lulworth Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4DH
Facebook: Friends of Hamworthy Park
SANTA’S HELPER EXPERIENCE AT THE TOWN MILL
Info: The top floor of The Mill will be transformed into Santa’s Workshop. Using the ancient sack hoist, children can help to get big sacks full of presents up to Santa's workshop in time for Christmas Eve! Additional activities for children will include Christmas colouring in and making your own salt dough decorations to take away.
Dates: Saturday 21st - Tuesday 24th December 2024
Address: The Town Mill, Mill Lane, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3PU
Website: Town Mill
FREE EVENT (DONATIONS WELCOMED)
WARTIME WINTER AT THE TANK MUSEUM
Info: This Christmas holidays, enjoy Christmas card colouring, Frank on a Tank Elf Trail, special talks from the Education Team and a Christmas-themed 1940s House and Shop.
Dates: Saturday 21st December 2024 – Sunday 5th January 2025
Address: Tank Museum, Linsay Road, Bovington, Dorset, BH20 6JG
Website: Tank Museum
WINTER MAGIC ADVENTURE CLUB
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Conkers Magical Earth, Upton Country Park, Poole Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7BJ
Facebook: Conkers Magical Earth
WEYMOUTH FIRE STATION CHRISTMAS CRACKER
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Weymouth Fire station, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, Dorset
Facebook: Weymouth Fire station
MEET SANTA AT SOPHIES CERAMICS
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Sophie’s Ceramics, 54a High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8AA
Website: Sophie’s Ceramics
CHRISTMAS PARTY WORKSHOP
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Milton on Stour Scout Hall, Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5QD
Facebook: Cook Stars South West
WEYMOUTH CHRISTMAS CRACKER
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Centenary Club, 21 Jubilee Close, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7BG
Facebook: Weymouth Carnival
PAINT WITH SANTA & BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT SPLAT POTTERY
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Splat Pottery Café, 808-810 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 2DT
Facebook: Splat Pottery
LITTLE RAVERS
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Popworld, 156-164 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1NL
Facebook: Popworld Bournemouth
NICKS FARM SANTA’S GROTTO
Date: Sunday 22nd December 2024
Address: Nicks Farm, Valley Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 0EB
Website: Nicks Farm
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Date: Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: Bournemouth Electric Club, 1 Broadway Lane, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 0AA
Facebook: Bournemouth Electric Club
THE SNOWMAN
Date: Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: Christchurch Priory, Quay Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1BU
Website: Christchurch Priory
CHRISTMAS CRAFT PARTY
Date: Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: The Crafty Cuppa, 46 High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1HU
Facebook: Wish Upon a Starre
SOUTHERN AQUATICS CHRISTMAS FUN DAY
Date: Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: Southern Aquatics, Northmead Drive, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7XZ
Facebook: Southern Aquatics
KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Date: Monday 23rd December 2024
Address: The Udder Farm Shop, Manor Farm, Front Street, East Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5LQ
Facebook: The Udder Farm Shop
BOURNEMOUTH NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY OPEN DAYS
Date: Friday 27th, Saturday 28th & Monday 30th December 2024
Address: Bournemouth Natural Science Society, 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3NS
Website: Bournemouth Natural Science Society
FREE ENTRY! (DONATIONS WELCOMED)
UPWEY WISHING WELL FROZEN QUEEN BRUNCH & DISCO
Date: Saturday 28th December 2024
Address: Upwey Wishing Well, 161 Church Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5QE
Website: Upwey Wishing Well
FREE FAMILY FILM CLUB
Date: Sunday 29th December 2024
Address: The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 1AS
Website: The Allendale Centre
LEMUR LANDINGS PHASER NIGHT
Date: Monday 30th December 2024
Address: Lemur Landings, Tower Park, Yarrow Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4NY
Website: Lemur Landings
GET UP AND BOUNCE PARTY
Info: This event has massive bouncy castles, inflatable slides, assault course, baby bouncers, ride ons, soft play, toddler area and much more!
Date: Monday 30th December 2024
Address: The Bourne Academy, Hadow Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH10 5HS
Website: Get Up and Bounce
UPWEY WISHING WELL PADDINGTON BRUNCH
Date: Friday 3rd January 2025
Address: Upwey Wishing Well, 161 Church Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5QE
Website: Upwey Wishing Well
Need more ideas for the festive period?
Santa's Grottos & Festive Experiences
Dorset Kids Holiday Club Directory
New Years Eve Family Friendly Events coming soon!
If you know of any more family friendly events then please do Contact Us with a poster.
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Dorsetmums has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this site and does not accept liability for any errors or omission. Please also note that an event or venue may cancel or close at any time and you should consider contacting beforehand to check an event is running.
