Christmas week events in Hull and East Yorkshire
The countdown is well and truly on with less than a week to go until Christmas. Shoppers are doing their last-minute stocking up on festive goodies and local attractions are in full swing with their seasonal offering. The cost of living crisis means money is tighter for many families this Christmas season.
It could be that people have planned to take part in just one main Christmas activity to stretch the pennies further. If that is the case, there is still plenty on the Christmas calendar for this coming week and beyond. There is plenty in the offing for families to choose from, with some events and activities being run for free.
These will serve to help those whose budgets are stretched but still want the kids to enjoy that special festive feeling. Read more: Full list of Santa’s grottos in Hull and East Yorkshire Other events, such as a visit to the pantomime, obviously have costs attached but many folk will believe it is worth foregoing some of the other non-essential luxuries associated with Christmas to have one big fun blowout to mark the season. Here is a selection of Christmas week events in and around the Hull area for you to choose from.
Stately Christmas – Burton Agnes Hall
Visit the Elizabethan stately home of Burton Agnes Hall, at Burton Agnes, and find it decorated with original, handmade decorations.
Younger visitors will enjoy locating the handmade felt snowman doll hidden in each room by the Cunliffe-Lister children.
Burton Agnes Hall at Christmas is a magical place filled with original, handmade decorations (Image: The Journal Hull)
Follow a trail of giant, hand-carved and painted candy canes in the woodland – there are 24 to find, one for each day of advent. When dusk falls, Christmas light-strewn topiary bushes, glowing fireplaces and twinkling lights in every room of the house will add to the festive atmosphere, while wood-fired pizzas, spiced hot drinks and home-baked cakes will be among the treats available. Until December 23
Christmas Adventure – Let Loose!
It’s all happening at Let Loose! Adventure Park this Christmas season.
As well as a chance to visit Santa in his Magical Grotto, there’s a Winter Wonderland roller arena for ages seven-plus, an hour of festive roller disco skating, with Christmas treats and hot chocolate on offer. There is a Christmas shop, outside games and a Nativity scene to bring the true magic of Christmas to life. Throughout Christmas week
Family Christmas show – Cherry Burton
The Marvellous, Mystical Musical Box from Badapple Theatre Company is being brought to Cherry Burton village hall by Cherry Burton Arts. Written by Kate Bramley with songs from Sony award-winner Jez Lowe, the audience can expect a host of magical puppet creatures, splendid songs, tall tales and jolly jokes in a story about a girl on a snowy Christmas Eve discovering an old music box in a loft – with enchanting results. Tuesday, December 20, 7.30pm
Magical Santa Experience – Sledmere House
Fun for all the family, this event includes chance to explore the Christmas Village, meeting all the animals, playing festive games and crafting some items for Christmas, before an exciting meeting with Santa.
Enjoy a festive tractor and trailer ride to see the beautiful herd of red deer, visit the walled garden, grounds, rare breed farm park and adventure play area and shop at the Christmas Barn. December 19 to 23
Santa Run – East Yorkshire
Children across Hull and East Yorkshire are invited to don their Santa hats and boots to help support Dove House Hospice this December by taking part in the Santa Run fundraiser. The Santa Run is simply a sponsored walk, run or tip-toe (or perhaps a combination of all three) organised in a location and over a distance of the organiser’s choice. There is no minimum sponsorship requirement – each and every pound raised will help to ensure Dove House Hospice can continue to provide its specialised care for patients at Christmas time.
Email [email protected] or call 01482 785743. Throughout December
The Pirates of Christmas Island – East Riding Libraries
A new festive family musical coming to your local library with the message, “If we don’t treasure the world, there’ll be no treasure left to find”. She Productions comes to the rescue to stop this Christmas being “rubbish”. Ten-year-old Sammy has moved to a new house, in a new town, far away from her favourite person in the world, her granny.
The only good thing is that she is now much closer to Christmas Island, a mystical pirates’ haven, just off the coast of Spurn Point. With the help of pirate royalty, and an encounter with some marooned jellyfish, Sammy uncovers the sorrows of the sea and the truth about the island that kept on giving. Recommended for children aged four-plus, the musical will be touring East Riding Libraries. Until December 24
Robin Robin Adventure Trail – Bempton
RSPB Bempton Cliffs is inviting families to celebrate their inner robin (Image: RSPB)
RSPB Bempton Cliffs plays host to the returning Robin Robin Adventure Trail this festive season.
Celebrate your inner robin and complete the trail, during which you will learn to sing like a robin, find your own superpower and use all your senses to connect with the robin within. There is also a Robin Robin storytelling day, including decorating your own Christmas decoration and hot drinks, on December 20, 11am. Until January 6, 2023
William’s Christmas Experience – North Cave
Experience the magic of Christmas at William’s Den – Father Christmas and his cheeky elves will star in William’s unmissable Christmas show, choose a present in the Christmas Cottage and meet Bauble the Baker, who will be getting creative with homemade gingerbread biscuits and helping children to decorate their own to take home. You can also toast marshmallows over the fire, play in the indoor den, explore the outdoor adventure park and enjoy a reindeer trail. Until December 24
A Christmas Carol – Hull Truck Theatre
On a cold Christmas Eve, four spirits conspire to show Ebenezer Scrooge the error of his ways.
This thrilling adaptation of Dickens’ classic Christmas ghost story is set in Hull. British Sign Language will be embedded into the production and visually impaired audiences will be able to access the show via an audio described performance on Tuesday, December 20, 7pm. Until December 31
Jack and the Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre
Join pop and musical theatre star Gareth Gates and Hull’s favourite funny man Neil Hurst in the spectacular family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack and his family as they fight to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves.
Expect laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime. Until December 31, with some signed and relaxed performances
Beauty and the Beast – Beverley
TaleGate Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast pantomime comes to the Parkway Cinema theatre stage over the festive season. Follow the beautiful Belle as she is trapped in an enchanted castle by a fearsome beast. Pop songs, magic and silliness fill this pantomime full of family fun.
At the noon performance on Sunday, December 18, a BSL sign interpreter will be joining the cast; Parkway also aims to accommodate people on the autism spectrum, as well as those with communication difficulties and learning disabilities, with slight changes to the performance. Tuesday to Saturday, December 20 to 24; Monday to Wednesday, December 26 to 28
Jack, Mum & The Beanstalk – Hull Truck Theatre
Young audiences will be excited and inspired by Sam Caseley’s story of Jack, Mum & The Beanstalk, brought to life on stage at Hull Truck Theatre’s Godber Studio. This new festive adventure, inspired by the well-known tale, Jack and The Beanstalk, is for children aged three-plus and their families, with original music, costume and lighting and set design. Leading the production as the much-loved Jack will be Levi Payne (Teechers Leavers ’22), alongside Lucy Litchfield, who will be playing Mum, Giant and Chicken. Until December 24
Christmas festivities – St Stephen’s
Christmas has arrived at St Stephen’s shopping centre, with a host of festivities for the whole family to enjoy.
Visitors to the centre can enjoy popular seasonal treats, including Yorkshire pudding wraps, churros and German sausages, from the Christmas huts located at the front the centre, until early January. There is a traditional funfair ride for the little ones and giant baubles in the centre, providing shoppers with the perfect opportunity for a festive selfie.
Breakfast with Santa – Home Farm
Come and join in a magical morning with Santa – the whole family are invited to breakfast with the big man in red at Brewers Fayre Home Farm, Ferriby Road, Hessle. You can book a one-hour slot between 9am and 11.30am. Daily until December 24
Trinity Live
The 2022 final instalment of Trinity Live at Trinity Market will include great live music, tasty food and welcoming crowds.
The weekly live music event has been running since September and gives a platform to many local bands and performers. As well as the live music, various different market traders support the event by serving up their diverse selection of food and drink in the heart of the Old Town – all for free. Thursday, December 22, from 6pm
Family swim and water play
Frederick Holmes School pool in Hull is hosting family swim and water play for SEND children and their families. There is a morning session from 10am to 11am and an afternoon play from 2pm to 3pm.
Entry is free to book for SEND children aged five to 11 and their parents and siblings. Monday, December 19
Winter pattern workshops
The Cultural Activity Centre at 70-72 Charles Street will be hosting two Winter Pattern Art Workshops in which children will make small patterns to help create one big pattern. The workshops are for children aged five to 11 and those interested simply turn up on the day. For more information, call 07434 880009 or email [email protected]. Monday, December 19 and Thursday, December 22, 1pm to 5pm
Christmas Lego Creations and Make & Take
Hull Central Library, Albion Street, is hosting two free Christmas events.
Christmas Lego Creations will take place from 2pm to 3pm on Wednesday, December 21, and is suitable for children aged five and above. Christmas Make & Take Craft Club will be held on Thursday, December 22, at the same time, and is suitable for those aged four to 14. Spaces are limited, so booking is essential, including for adults and babies.
Under-eights must be accompanied by an adult. More information can be found here. All Hull Libraries are also spaces where you can visit to spend time completing jigsaws, playing games or reading.
Make a light-up Christmas card
East Riding Libraries’ new STREAM events are a programme of activities for children and families which focus on developing skills and interest in the key subject areas of Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
The aim is to help support learning through fun. During the Christmas holidays, events will be held at several libraries across the East Riding. One of the sessions involves making a light-up Christmas card and is being held in December at Bridlington (19th); Haltemprice (20th); Leven (21st); Beverley, Hedon, and Withernsea (22nd).
Some sessions require pre-booking, others are turn up on the day. Other activities include Christmas Lego art and team Lego engineering, and Code-a-Pillar and the Great Reindeer Rebellion. Full details of all the STREAM events, including timings and how to book where required, are at: https://www.eastridinglibraries.co.uk/stream-events
A Dickens of a Christmas
East Riding Theatre in association with Other Lives Productions presents an “entertaining extravaganza of fun-filled festive theatre”.
A cornucopia of delights includes much-loved episodes from Charles Dickens’ hand, and other assorted Victoriana, directed by Richard Avery.
Be prepared to clap, laugh, cry, cheer, swoon, gasp and sing along as heroes, heroines, villains and n’er-do-wells skip, run, creep, saunter, jig and laugh, propelling you into the spirit of Christmas. Until December 23, 7.30pm nightly and selected matinees
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