There are so many great events (and local Christmas fairs) happening in November and December you can keep track of it in our Events Calendar to see whats happening day by day in BCP.
This post is being updated frequently!
Date: 2. December 2023 Time: 11am
Watch ‘Crackers’ & lots of other elf-tastic runners on a 2km dash along the seafront at the Branksome Dean Beach, BH13 6JP.
Starts at Cobhams, Brook Road, Wimborne Minster BH21 2BJ.
Date: 9. December 2023 Time: 11am-5pm
With more than thirty floats involving charities and groups from across the region, the parade offers a great day out for all the family. Donation welcome,
Date: 20. December 2023 Time: 11am-5pm
FREE Christmas Event at Colin’s Nest Cafe with a magical Christmas Grotto, Christmas inflatables, Face Painter, see Santa & play games with the Elves.
Date: 2. December 2023 Time: 9.30am
Help make a difference to children living in poverty this Christmas. Donate gifts at the centre with the help of your favourite superheroes and characters dressed in costumes. Up to 50 heroes and villains from Marvel to Disney and more.
Date: 18. & 19. December 2023 Time: 11am-1pm
The Friendly Food Club are back at the Henry Brown for FREE Christmas cooking!
Booking is essential – email admin@westhowe.net to book, with the number of adults and children you wish to book for, any allergies or dietary requirements, and a contact phone number.
Date: 10. December 2023 Time: 11am-2pm
Father Christmas will be making a special visit! Handing out presents and celebrating the season.
There will also be face painting. FREE Tickets register here.
Date: 20. December 2023 Time: 11am-5pm
FREE Christmas Event at Colin’s Nest Cafe with a magical Christmas Grotto, Christmas inflatables, Face Painter, see Santa & play games with the Elves.
Come along and watch some free festive movies on the big screen at Festive Point located in the lower level below JD Sports at Castlepoint Shopping Park.
2nd December 2pm – The Grinch
9th December 4pm – Home Alone
16th December 1pm Christmas Carol
23rd December 2pm – Elf
Date: 17. December 2023 Time: 12pm-4pm
Pop along for some Christmas Cheer and ride our 5″ railway
FREE Train rides
Picnic Area
Refreshments
Garden Railway
Donations welcome
57 Martins Hill Lane, Christchurch.
Date: 22. December 2023 Times: 6-7.30pm
Come and meet Santa and his Elfs in the secret garden! Raising money for our charity, The Isabel Baker Foundation. Disco & Music from local singers.
Just turn up no tickets required.
Date: 18. 19. & 21. December 2023 Time: 9.30 – 11.30 am
Bring your kids for a super fun morning! There’ll be exciting movies to watch and cool crafts to make. It’s a great way to play, create, and celebrate Christmas time together.
Write a letter to Santa and post by latest 8th December 2023 to:
Santa/Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
Make sure to put a 1st or 2nd class stamp on the envelope so it gets to Santa and include your full name and address in your letter so you can get a reply from him!
Santa will start replying from end of November (expect a wait of around 10 days).
Date: 16. – 29. November 2023
If you are heading down to Bournemouth Square anyway there is a dedicated post box direct to the North Pole where kids can drop of their special letter to Santa.
Date: 25. November – 15. December 2023
No need for a stamp. Simply pop your letter in an envelope in the post box which can be found in Putt-Putt Noodle. A letter will be picked at random and receive £25 gift voucher to spend at The Entertainer.
Date: 19. & 26. November & 3. 10. 17. December 2023 Time: 11am-1pm
Get ready to sprinkle some enchantment and add a dash of whimsy to your kids’ Christmas celebrations with some festive face painting by Pixie Paint & Laurie Lloyd at the Alpine Lodge.
The Elves, Elsa & the Christmas Fairy are making their way around the market! Dates & more info here.
Outside The Real Greek
Date: 17. November – 14. December 2023
Monday to Thursday: 5pm, 6pm, 7pm Friday: 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
15. December – 1. January – Monday to Sunday: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, then come down to Bh2 Leisure and witness snow falling every day. Each snowfall will last for 4 minutes. Plus some surprise guests.
Bournemouth Rock Choir will be singing some festive tunes on the 17. November at 6pm.
Date: 4.- 21. December 2023 Time: Evening between 5 – 8pm
Santa’s Sleigh is coming your way and his elves will be happy to collect any donation you would like to make, if you are able. Maps of the routes can be found here.
Date: 2. December 2023 Time: 11am-2pm
Santa Event – Westbourne Arcade with singing by Sound of Soul Choir 11.30am-12.15pm & 12.45-1.30pm. Mice Pies for Donation plus sweets and glow sticks for the kids.
Additionally Santa and his Sleigh can be found at the following Tesco Stores
Sunday 10th December Tesco, Branksome – 10.00 – 4.00pm
Sunday 17th December Tesco, Castle Lane – 1.00pm – 4.30pm
Longfleet, Oakdale, Creekmoor, Hamworthy and Upton just to name a few.
Date: 4. – 23. December 2023 Time: Around 6-8pm
Santa and his elves will be out and about from the 4th December, bringing some Christmas cheer. Donations welcome. See here for more info.
Date: 27. 28. 30. November 8. 11. & 13. December 2023 Time: from 5pm
Check out maps of the route on their Facebook Page.
PLEASE NOTE; They will be taking donations by cash, card or food for the local food banks.
2. December 2023 7am-5.30pm – Castlepoint Come and meet Santa.
Date: 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th – 24th December 2023
Arctic Adventure – Let your little one explore the amazing wintery set and hear stories, play games and make winter crafts inside. A free first-come, first-served session for little ones. Located between New Look and Flip Out on the Ground Floor.
Date: 1.-23. December 2023 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Time: Thurs,Fr,Sat 11am-7pm + Sun 10.30am-4.30pm
There will be Live Music & Performances as well as Christmas Movies on the Big Screen to watch.
Date: 1. – 24. December 2023 Time: Daily at 6pm
Living Advent Calendar – 24 charities supported & 24 surprise performers at a different venue each night in December. More info here.
Santa’s helpers welcome you into the grotto – check out the elves workshop.
Write a wish list & pop it into the speedy post box
Meet Santa and receive free, age-appropriate gift & a digital photo
Aimed at Under 9’s but everyone is welcome. Click here to see all the selected Tesco stores and book your slot.
UPDATE: All slots for participating Tescos in the BCP area are now booked up but please do check to see if slots become available due to cancellations.
Lower Gardens Bournemouth, BH1 2AQ.
Date: 17. November 2023 – 1. January 2024
Spectacular free Christmas tree trail, enchanting illuminations and seasonal family fun.
Experience the magical, mystical and memorable spectacle of over 100 glittering trees and illuminations. Explore the Alpine Market and skate in the enchanting Victorian Lower Gardens. Enjoy live music, entertainment and magical illuminations across the town plus NEW for 2023 the Santa Express Train in front of the band stand (charges apply).
MUMBLER TIP: Pack some biscuits, marshmallows and a flask full of hot chocolate to enjoy after your walk through the trail in the car!
Poole High Street, Falkland Square & Poole Quay.
Date: 25. November 2023 – 2. January 2024
The Poole Christmas Maritime Light Festival which celebrates Poole’s rich nautical heritage, features a spectacular trail of maritime-themed lights that will see the gateways to Poole including Hunger Hill and Lighthouse, lit up, welcoming people to the town centre.
An enchanting light trail will continue in Falkland Square, down the High Street and onto Poole Quay, bringing plenty of festive cheer to everyone.
Choir and Carols at the Bournemouth Christmas Market – More info & dates here.
Poole Choir on Christmas – More info & dates here.
If you are visiting Moors Valley Country Park and Forest check out all the fantastic free trails there are on offer from the popular Play Trail to the Music Trail or the high up Tree Top Trail or how about the brand new Zog – A Forest Adventure Trail there is something for everyone plus pop into the Ranger Den for FREE and check out what events they have running.
You can also see if you can spot the life-size sculptures of Gruffalo and all his friends. More info here.
Date: 1. – 25. December 2023
Collect a form and have fun finding the letters to make a phrase in the windows throughout Poole.
Entry forms are available from:
Truly Scrumptious ~ Poole Old Town
Rope & Anchor ~ Poole Old Town
Flaming Nora’s ~ Kingland Crescent
Toytown ~ The Dolphin Shopping Centre.
Window Display Competition – Visit the businesses and see all of the wonderful displays, explore Poole and all it has to offer. Vote for your favourite for the chance to win ⭐️£100 to spend in Poole. Voting is open from 8th until 22nd December.
Date: 16. November 2023 – 1. January 2024
– Collect your FREE activity booklet from the Alpine Lodge until 6pm daily
– Find our Christmas Trail map
– Start exploring the Market, Wonderland and Skate to find your clues and letters
– Collect all 8 and solve our riddle, fill out your answer in the squares provided, tear off and submit via the ‘Letters to Santa’ postbox located opposite WHSmiths or alternatively submit via the Christmas in Bournemouth website.
– Be in for a chance to win some great Christmas treats!
All across Christchurch High Street.
Date: 25. November – 9. December 2023
We need your help to uncover the secret hideouts of these naughty little elves! If you happen to spot one of them in a shop, proudly waving a golden Christchurch BID flag, don’t be shy – approach them!
Ask for a golden ticket, fill in your details, drop it in Santa’s postbox at the Regent Centre! By joining in on the hunt, you have the chance to 𝙒𝙄𝙉 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 £100 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙨, just in time for Christmas!
Date: 24. November 2023 – 1.January 2024 Time: 9am -4.30pm
Seasonal fun and general knowledge questions. £1.50 per trail sheet.
Date: 1. December 2023 – 4. January 2024
At five town centre locations, there will be a shape-based window vinyl where trail participants can access an augmented reality experience and two historic facts about Bournemouth’s past, all via an app.
Everyone completing the fun trail will be entered for a free competition to win a Town Centre Gift Card.
We put together a list of some more Winter & Christmas Trails for you to explore – click here.
If you want to save some money, but still want to enjoy eating out, we’ve listed all the places kids can eat for free or £1 (or with special discounted meals) until the end of the year locally in BCP & Nationwide just click here.
🍂✨☔️️Did you know that there are over 450 parks and open spaces in BCP? The Parks Foundation have a list of fun and FREE nature activities in a park near you!
Catch the last of the leaves and feel the first of the frosts with us in the parks, you’ll be sure of a warm welcome!
Check out the Autumn into Winter Program and book your place today – more info here.
Ideas for the Teenagers! 
BCP has plenty of Skate Parks where the youngsters could throw some shapes on their boards with their mates here are just a few of our favourite ones: Duck Lane, Slades Farm, Baiter Park, West Moors, Verwood, Riverside, Corfe Mullen and many more.
You can also check out some more ideas for teen days out on here.
Did you know BCP has over 24 libraries to explore? Plus at least 5 in the surrounding areas like Ringwood, Ferndown, Corfe Mullen etc…. You can find your nearest one in our brand new local library guide here.
Check out the full programme until the end of the year – Click here for Events in your local BCP Library.
The superstar team are back for a winter adventure. Join in from 1. December and read 3 or more books before the 19. February 2024 to unlock special rewards. Sign up HERE!
Just click here.
Canford Heath Community Centre, 7 Mitchell Road.
Date: 28. 29. & 30. December 2023 Date: 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance 30. December 2023 at 2.30pm
Maverick Arts Dorset is a community drama group making drama accessible for all at an affordable price.
Adult: £5, Child, student, OAP: £3 and Family (4 tickets, one ticket hold must be under 18):£14
Contact Maverick Arts Dorset on 07359228744 to book.
8-9 Falkland Square, Poole BH15 1ER.
Date: 6. December 2023 Time: 2-4pm
Santa’s Grotto
Biscuit decorating
Card making
Tree decorating
Visit from Santa and a present
Lucky dip
£5pp (all donations go to Forest Holme Hospice).
You can explore the Bournemouth Natural Science Society & Museum which is a natural history museum with fossils, minerals and an Egyptology collection and a large garden. Entry donations are welcome.
Christmas Opening Times 28. 29. & 30. December 2023 – 10am-3.30pm Doors close at 4pm.
For more museums check this list out here.
We hope you enjoy some of these free & low cost things to do in BCP this Christmas & New Year and have lots of festive fun out and about! 
