Swindon & Wiltshire News
Christmas in Swindon and Wiltshire 2023
Here’s our highlights of Christmas in Swindon and Wiltshire.
Christmas lluminations
This Friday…
The last weekend in November is when most towns kick off their Crimbo lights.
The Devizes’ two day Winter Festival begins Friday 24 November, with festive markets during both days and on Friday night a lantern parade is followed by fireworks. In Wiltshire, Devizes is to outdoor arts events what Pewsey is to carnivals so its well-worth a visit to the market centre of the county.
Now…
Hunt through the wardrobe, don the (fake)fur coats and head off to the ‘treasured tale’-themed Longleat illuminations, The Festival of Light (see top photo). Life-sized lanterns create scenes from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz and Winnie the Pooh. Plus there’s the fabled 15 metre tall singing Christmas tree, the Santa train and a fountain display on Half Mile Pond. Longleat’s Festival of Light continues on selected evenings until 7 January.
Until 23 December, Salisbury Cathedral offers twilight tower tours ‘for unparalleled views of the city’s twinkling Christmas lights.’
From December…
Swindon Town Gardens is one of those local secrets which the casual visitor to Swindon’s Old Town can easily miss. From 1 December to Christmas Eve, the gardens are levelled up to Enchanted Gardens with illuminated trees, light sculptures, soft soundscapes and a light show. There’s also food and drink from local vendors.
And throughout December down in the southwest of Wiltshire, Stourhead‘s 18th century grottos, temples, trees and lake will be ‘drenched in jewel-like colour’.
Salisbury Cathedral carol concert 2022. Photo © Business Biscuit
Christmas Music
Salisbury Cathedral is a place of worship which has fully embraced its cultural heritage, staging brilliant installations inside the magnificent building but also has a member of the clergy to welcome visitors as they pass through. There’s something rather wonderful about being greeted by the Dean, Canon or Bishop when attending a carol service or art installation.
This year the Advent Procession, where more than 1,000 candles are lit with the help of the congregation, takes place 1 to 3 December; the carol concerts are 22 to 23 December. And if you want more, more, more Christmas tunes, G4 – the million-selling album X-Factor faves – will be singing well-loved numbers on 6 December.
The Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon hosts Alex Mendham and His Orchestra for a big band-style Vintage Christmas Party, on 15 December, and the annual favourite of A Cantamus Christmas features carols, music and readings on 19 December just before schools break up.
Rock the Tots Christmas 2023
Christmas Kids
Steph and Craig are touring their morning Rock the Tots Christmas Concert during December – pick your venue from Wiltshire Music Centre, Corsham’s Pound Arts Centre and Bath’s Rondo Theatre.
Just in case the kids weren’t quite at fever pitch before the big day, the Santa’s Christmas Wish musical show guarantees ‘every child receives a gift’, at Chippenham’s Neeld Hall 17 December, and Swindon Arts Centre 16 to 24 December. We don’t know how Santa finds the time on Christmas Eve (Ed: because he’s magic?? LL: because Mrs Santa and her elves work hard in the background!)
Christmas Live shows
It’s sold out at Salisbury Arts Centre but, at the time of writing, there are still available tickets at the Neeld Hall for Living Spit’s ‘feast of festive foolery’ comedy musical version of A Christmas Carol on 1 December.
And, what about panto? It’s behind you! Dick Whittington sets off to make his fortune at Salisbury Playhouse and Sleeping Beauty drops off at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre.
Avebury Manor © Abby George
Historic Christmas
Given it’s the historic county of Wiltshire, there are plenty of well-dressed houses to get your traditional festive fix.
Avebury Manor tells the Twelve Days of Christmas through their festive house decorations until 1 January, and Lady True Love, the recipient for all those extravagant and not-entirely-practical 12 days of gifts, is waiting in the dovecote. She may have a story and a gift for you. Avebury barn hosts a market and there are guided winter rambles around the stones.
Meanwhile, Salisbury’s Mompesson House is A Christmas Carol-themed. A giant Christmas tree of which Scrooge would have heartily disapproved stands in the Large Dressing Room.
The historic village of Lacock really pushes the sleigh out with a decorated Great Hall, a community Christmas tree festival, reindeer trail, Mother Christmas story time and gifts and Rudolph in the courtyard.
As well as their outdoor illuminated trails, the Palladian mansion of Stourhead will be decorated from its corinthian column head to its Axminster carpet toes, and Longleat House will be in its best tinselled bib and tree tucker.
On the outskirts of Swindon, Lydiard House Museum uses seasonal arrangements by the Royal Wootton Bassett Flower Club, and a traditional kissing ball on their Christmas tree to create A Country House Christmas.
