You’ll find plenty to get you in the Christmas spirit including local markets, free children’s activities and walkabouts, lots of entertainment and festive things to do all the way up to Christmas 2024. We’ve pulled together the ultimate guide to what’s on in Basingstoke town centre this Christmas.

Kicking off Christmas

Love Basingstoke will be spreading cheer in the Top of the Town on Friday 15 November 2024. Festive Friday is the perfect way to start the festive season with music, singing, festive walkabouts, free childrens activities and an appearance from some of this year's Anvil Arts pantomime characters. You’ll want to make sure this date is in your diary! There will also be a pop-up market. This is a great opportunity to support local stallholders whilst shopping for loved ones.

Christmas in The Malls

Shop for crafty and unusual gifts at The Malls' traditional Christmas Market which runs from Friday 15 November to 31 December.

You’ll find Christmas walkabouts to entertain you whilst you shop across the festive period including Stocking Up, skating presents and Jake The Polar Bear.

On 7 December head along to meet Father and Mother Christmas by the tree (free event). Don’t forget your letters! Shopmobility will be in the Christmas Charity Hut from 9 to 13 and 16 to 20 December to wrap your Christmas gifts.

Christmas at Festival Place

Head to Festival Place with your gift list in hand to pick up lots of goodies for loved ones.

Santa’s Grotto will be open in Festival Place from Saturday 2 November to Tuesday 24 December. Book your ticket for a suitable time slot. Please note the Grotto is closed from 1pm to 1.40pm each day and quiet hour runs every Sunday from 9am to 10am.

Take in a show

Anvil Arts has a packed programme with a variety of shows to suit all ages including The Owl who came for Christmas,  The Nutcracker, The Albion Christmas Band and a Christmas Carol at The Haymarket, located at The Top of the Town. Fairytale of New York  will also come to The Anvil.

A staple at Christmas is a panto, ‘oh no it isn’t….oh yes it is’.  This year’s spectacular family pantomime at The Anvil is Sleeping Beauty. A beautiful princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse on the eve of her 18th birthday party and can only be awoken by true love's kiss. Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the curse? Will she find her true love and live happily ever after? There’s only one way to find out! Tickets are available between 12 December and 5 January.

The Christmas Elf Inspector is this year’s show from Scratchbuilt Productions and Proteus. An immersive theatre experience where you are at the heart of the story. Audiences travel around the Creation Space arts centre with the story, each room transformed into an enchanting Christmassy scene, full of wonder.

Other events

Rudolph and his friends are back on Sunday 24 November 2024 for another exciting Reindeer Run! Put on your antlers and walk, dash, dance and prance along the 3K Reindeer Run route starting in Festival Place, whilst raising vital funds for St. Michael’s Hospice.

Christmas Wreath workshops return to Proteus this year. From Thursday 28 November to Saturday 30 November you can join a workshop with step by step guidance to create the perfect Christmas Wreath.

The elves have lost the Christmas parcels around the Willis Museum - go on a present hunt and find the missing letters as part of a Christmas Trail. The First Floor Basingstoke Community Gallery will become a space for make and takes, workshops and seasonal themed art from 30 November. Professional storyteller Amanda Kane-Smith will be telling enchanting European folk tales full of festive magic on 7 December, pre-booking is required for this event. On 21 December there will be candle holder workshops suitable for those aged 7 and over, grown-ups can have a go too. Visit the Willis Museum website to book a slot.

 See our Top five things to do this festive season for more ideas.

 October 2024