Looking for Bristol events, exhibitions and festivals to attend this year? We’ve got it covered with this regularly updated guide. Keep checking back for the latest details.
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Christmas 2024 in Bristol
There is loads to do in Bristol this Christmas, including:
‘Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Experience‘ is an immersive family adventure at Cabot Circus until 24 December. Watch our video.
Enjoy an immersive Victorian Christmas weekend at SS Great Britain on 7-8 December. Watch our video of last year’s Victorian Christmas Weekend.
Winter Wonderland at Wookey Hole from 23 November until 24 December. It includes a stunning light experience in the underground caves, a panto themed circus show, Santa’s grotto and more. From 27 December until 5 January, Paddington will make guest appearances after the twice daily circus shows. Watch our video.
There are plenty of exciting bars in Bristol for Christmas nights out, including Sixes Social Cricket on the harbourside. Watch our video.
Enjoy Christmas gifts, food, drinks, rides and more with the return of Bristol Christmas Market until 23 December, plus the new Bristol Christmas Village from 5 December until 2 January.
You can also do Christmas shopping and support independent traders at the Bristol Pop-up Shop in the Galleries, and Made in Bristol Gift Fair at Bristol Beacon.
At the Wake The Tiger immersive experience there’s RETRO-MEGA-MAS from 9 November until 6 January.
At Bristol Aquarium from 21 December until 5 January is Fishmas Families, including Charlie the Christmas Clownfish collecting Fishmas letters for Santa, and a trail with facts about how animals form different social groups.
Festive ice skating, light trails, meet Father Christmas and more at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park.
Enjoy a day out with the animals plus a Shaun the Sheep sculpture trail at Bristol Zoo Project. There are also Christmas activities at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.
A Christmas Carol drone light show, narrated by actor Matt Lucas, at Seat Unique Stadium on 19 – 21 December. Watch our video of last year’s drone show.
Enjoy a day of play and discovery, colour and creativity, across the brilliant We the Curious’ two floors of intriguing things to do.
Family festive fun at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery including Dance with Doris, a silent disco with Doris, the pliosaur who swims above the museum café.
Christmas theatre shows include The Little Mermaid at Bristol Old Vic (5 December – 11 January), Jack and the Beanstalk at Redgrave Theatre (13 December – 5 January), A Christmas Carol at Tobacco Factory Theatre (9 December – 5 January), The Snow Baby at The Wardrobe Theatre (20 – 30 December), Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Bristol Hippodrome (7 December – 5 January).
Carol concerts include Carols by Candelight on 13 and 14 December at Bristol Cathedral, A Baroque Christmas by Candlelight on 20 December and Christmas Special by Candlelight on 22 December at St George’s Bristol, and The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on 22 December at the Lord Mayor’s Chapel.
Exhibitions include 171st Annual Open Exhibition at RWA, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 and Hashem Shakeri – Staring into the Abyss at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Rinko Kawauchi: At the edge of the everyday world at Arnolfini, and Sophia Al-Maria and Lydia Ourahmane: Grey Unpleasant Land at Spike Island.
Take a winter trip around Bristol harbour with Bristol Ferry and Bristol Packet.
Brunelf, Bristol’s own 15-ft version of The Elf on the Shelf, is spreading festive cheer at some of the city’s most iconic locations from 22 November until 24 December. In partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID, Bristol City Centre BID and The Lumistella Company, here’s where the Scout Elf will be making merry:
- No. 17 Park Street (22 – 25 November)
- Old Fire Station (25 – 27 November)
- Ritorno Lounge (27 – 29 November)
- Bristol Temple Meads (29 November – 2 December)
- 70 Redcliffe Street (2 – 5 December)
- The Wellhead (5 – 9 December)
- Cheese Lane Shot Tower (9 – 12 December)
- The Planetarium at We The Curious in Millennium Square (12 – 16 December)
- Bristol Hippodrome (16 – 20 December)
- Bristol Old Vic (20 – 24 December)
For the chance to win a £500 Love Bristol Gift Card, take a selfie with Brunelf, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #BristolElfie, and tag @bristolbid and @redcliffeandtemplebid.
We were provided with free access to some Bristol events and experiences by Visit Bristol.
Find out more about all the things to do in Bristol this Christmas on the Visit Bristol website.
Wishing you a very #MerryBristmas!
