We confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Bristol for 2026. The season starts on 7 November with Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus and runs until 9 January (A Christmas Carol). Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in the UK.
The short version
- 12 kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Bristol and Wraxall
- First: Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus, Bristol, 7 November
- Free events: None confirmed yet
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by area, with the date, time, price and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).
Bristol Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 12 confirmed for 2026
- Areas
- Bristol and Wraxall
- Season
- 7 November to 9 January
- Free events
- None confirmed yet
- Last checked
Christmas events for kids in Bristol
11 confirmed events in Bristol, soonest first.
Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus
Santa’s grottoCabot Circus · Bristol
- Host
- Cabot Circus (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Cabot Circus, ODEON Luxe Bristol foyer (Level 1), Glass House Lane, Bristol BS1 3BX
- When
- Weekends in November, then daily Fri 4 Dec to Christmas Eve
- Price
- £8.50 per child (babies included), accompanying adults free
- Booking
- Booking recommended
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus offers a quick, traditional visit that lasts about five minutes from start to finish. Before going in, children write a letter to Santa at the letter-writing table, post it with a pull of a lever, and hear a phone ring to confirm it has reached the North Pole. Every child receives a present chosen to suit their age, and photos and Santa merchandise are on sale on the day.
The grotto is on Level 1 in the ODEON Luxe Bristol foyer. It opens at weekends only from Sunday 1 November, then daily from Friday 4 December until Christmas Eve. Tickets are £8.50 per child, including babies, and the grown-ups who go in with them are free. Tickets can be booked online, and dogs are welcome too.
Parent tip: Book online to choose your slot. The family dog is welcome to come along.
See dates and details from Cabot Circus (opens in a new tab)A Christmas Carol
Carol concertTobacco Factory Theatres · Bristol
- Host
- Tobacco Factory Theatres (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tobacco Factory Theatres, Factory Theatre, Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1TF
- When
- Fri 20 Nov 2026 to Sat 9 Jan 2027
- Price
- Standard from £18, concession from £15
- Ages
- Ages 7+
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Tobacco Factory Theatres' festive production is a brand-new adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Carl Grose, directed by Heidi Vaughan and Lydia Cook. It moves the story to Dickensian Bristol on Christmas Eve and tells it through the eyes of Jacob Marley and his unruly band of spirits, with the moments you love re-forged with laughter, live music and the intimacy of an in-the-round theatre.
The show runs about 2 hours 15 minutes including an interval and is recommended for ages 7 and over. The theatre warns of flashing lights, haze, and occasional sudden effects or loud noises that younger children may find unsettling. Standard tickets start at £18 and concessions at £15. BSL interpreted performances are on Fri 18 Dec at 7pm and Sat 19 Dec at 2pm, captioned shows on Wed 6 Jan, and a relaxed performance on Sat 2 Jan at 2pm.
Parent tip: Some 1pm matinees are reserved for schools, so check times when booking. The relaxed performance on Sat 2 Jan suits children who prefer a calmer show.
See dates and details from Tobacco Factory Theatres (opens in a new tab)Cinderella: A Fairytale
Panto or Christmas showBristol Old Vic · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Old Vic (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED
- When
- Fri 27 Nov 2026 to Sat 2 Jan 2027
- Price
- From £11, 20% discount for kids
- Ages
- Ages 5+ (all the family)
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Sally Cookson and Adam Peck's much-loved version of Cinderella returns to Bristol Old Vic, reimagined for 2026. Free-spirited Ella finds comfort in the woods and the birds that roost there, until a new stepmother turns her life upside down and an invitation to the Royal Ball arrives. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, it is an ensemble retelling with live music, modern mischief and plenty of festive joy.
The show runs for about two hours including an interval and is recommended for ages 5 and up. The theatre notes that, in true Grimm style, there are a few grisly but not gory moments that may be a little frightening for younger children. Tickets start at £11 with a 20% discount for under 18s, and there are BSL, relaxed, audio described and captioned performances. A free education pack with crafts and writing activities can be downloaded from the event page.
Parent tip: Several early performances were marked selling fast or limited. Email the box office if you are unsure whether the scarier moments suit your child.
See dates and details from Bristol Old Vic (opens in a new tab)Wild Lights at Bristol Zoo Project
Christmas lightsBristol Zoo Project · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Zoo Project (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Zoo Project, Hollywood Lane, Bristol BS10 7TW
- When
- Evenings, Fri 27 Nov to Wed 23 Dec, from 4:30pm
- Price
- Paid timed tickets, pre-booking required
- Ages
- All ages
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New for 2026, Wild Lights transforms Bristol Zoo Project into an immersive winter lights trail through towering trees and winding pathways. Expect star arches, neon animals, lanterns, a carpet of colour and the fully lit Explorers Basecamp playground, with interactive elements along the way. Festive food is on sale, including black forest hot chocolate, and you can toast marshmallows at the fire pit.
Tickets are for timed slots starting at 4:30pm and must be pre-booked, as capacity is limited to around 100 guests every 15 minutes. This is a lights trail rather than a zoo visit, and the animals are off show at night. The trail is fully accessible, with wheelchairs and mobility scooters to borrow if booked ahead. Relaxed sessions with fewer guests run on Thursday 10 and Thursday 17 December from 4:30pm to 6pm. Paths can be uneven and muddy, so dress for the weather.
Parent tip: Arrive no more than 15 minutes before your slot. Members get 20% off on 27, 28 and 29 November only.
See dates and details from Bristol Zoo Project (opens in a new tab)The Snowy Day
Christmas story timeBristol Old Vic · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Old Vic (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Old Vic, The Weston Studio, King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED
- When
- Selected dates, Sat 28 Nov 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027
- Price
- £11 per child, £13 per adult, babes in arms under 12 months free
- Ages
- Ages 1 to 5
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Snowy Day is a joyful dance adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Ezra Jack Keats, brought to Bristol Old Vic by Polka Theatre and Can't Sit Still. Little ones follow Peter as he crunches through the snowy streets of his New York neighbourhood, told through one dancer, original music and an enchanting set. The show is made specially for 1 to 5 year olds and their grown-ups.
Each performance lasts about 30 minutes and is followed by a 10-minute stay and play, so it suits short attention spans well. It runs in The Weston Studio, the theatre's smaller space, and all performances are highly visual and suitable for deaf and hearing audiences. Relaxed performances are available. Tickets are £11 for children and £13 for adults including the booking fee, and babes in arms under 12 months go free. The theatre has also published a visual guide and colouring pages for families to enjoy before they come.
Parent tip: Morning slots on weekends were marked as selling fast, so book early. Download the visual guide from the event page to help little ones know what to expect.
See dates and details from Bristol Old Vic (opens in a new tab)Little Snowy Hare
Panto or Christmas showTobacco Factory Theatres · Bristol
- Host
- Tobacco Factory Theatres (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tobacco Factory Theatres, Spielman Theatre, Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1TF
- When
- Thu 3 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027
- Price
- £12 per adult or child, babes in arms £2
- Ages
- Ages 2+
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Little Snowy Hare is a magical wintery adventure for children aged 2 and over and their grown-ups. When Snowy Hare cannot find her way back to her nest, she sets off through the snowy wilderness, following footprints and meeting new animals, and discovers bravery and skills she never knew she had. The story is told with captivating puppetry and enchanting music.
The show lasts 40 minutes with no interval and is billed as the perfect introduction to theatre for early years audiences. Every performance is relaxed and designed to be welcoming, with ear defenders available and a relaxed performance pack on request. Tickets are £12 for adults and children alike, and babes in arms under 12 months are £2, added during booking after choosing seats. Groups of 10 or more get 15% off.
Parent tip: All performances are relaxed, so this is a good first theatre trip. Add the £2 babes in arms ticket after you pick your seats.
See dates and details from Tobacco Factory Theatres (opens in a new tab)Dick Whittington
Panto or Christmas showRedgrave Theatre · Bristol
- Host
- Redgrave Theatre (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Redgrave Theatre, Percival Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LE
- When
- Fri 4 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027
- Price
- 16s and under £18 to £20, adults £22 to £24, family ticket £72 to £80
- Ages
- Suitable for all, recommended 3+
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Redgrave Theatre's pantomime follows Dick Whittington and his friends Alice Fitzwarren, silly Idle Jack and larger-than-life Seamstress Sarah as they head from bustling markets to stormy seas, shipwrecks and mysterious jungles, while the wicked Queen Rat and her ratlings plot against them. Expect boo-worthy villains, toe-tapping tunes and plenty of audience participation.
The show runs about 2 hours 10 minutes including an interval and is suitable for all, with a recommended age of 3 and up. Off-peak tickets (4 to 17 December and 2 to 3 January) are £22 for adults and £18 for 16s and under, and peak tickets (18 to 31 December) are £24 and £20. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £72 off-peak or £80 peak. There is a relaxed performance on Sunday 27 December at 10:30am and a signed performance on Tuesday 29 December at 2pm.
Parent tip: Children under 24 months need a free lap seat added to the order. A £1.50 booking fee applies per ticket and doors open 30 minutes before the show.
See dates and details from Redgrave Theatre (opens in a new tab)Sleeping Beauty (Pantomime)
Panto or Christmas showBristol Hippodrome (ATG) · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Hippodrome (ATG) (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine's Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
- When
- Fri 4 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027
- Price
- Prices on the booking page
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Bristol Hippodrome's Christmas pantomime for 2026 is Sleeping Beauty, billed as the pantomime that dreams are made of. Craig Revel Horwood, the TV judge and musical theatre star, plays the wicked Carabosse, with panto favourite Andy Ford as Muddles and Bristol-born actor and radio presenter Joe Sims as the Henchman.
The pantomime runs from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 on the Hippodrome's large main stage in the city centre. A relaxed performance, designed for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed theatre environment, is scheduled for Thursday 17 December 2026. Ticket prices and performance times are shown on the ATG booking page once you choose a date.
Parent tip: Book the relaxed performance on Thu 17 Dec if your child finds big theatres noisy or overwhelming.
See dates and details from Bristol Hippodrome (ATG) (opens in a new tab)Nutcracker and I by Alexandra Dariescu
Panto or Christmas showBristol Beacon · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Beacon, Beacon Hall, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
- When
- Mon 14 Dec, 6 to 7 pm
- Price
- £18.24 to £31.36 including booking fee, under 17s £18.24
- Ages
- All ages
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Pianist Alexandra Dariescu brings Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker to life in a multimedia performance combining live piano, ballet and digital animation. The story is reimagined through Clara's journey from a little girl with a dream to a concert pianist, as Dariescu plays 15 arrangements of Tchaikovsky's music alongside a ballerina and hand-drawn animations projected onto a gauze screen.
The performance is on Monday 14 December 2026 in Beacon Hall. Bars open at 5pm, doors at 5:30pm, and the show runs from 6pm to about 7pm, a manageable length for younger concert-goers. It is billed as a treat for all ages. Seating is reserved, tickets range from £18.24 to £31.36 including the booking fee, and under 17s can buy concession tickets at £18.24.
Parent tip: At one hour with an early evening start, this works well as a first classical concert. Choose the under 17s concession when booking for children.
See dates and details from Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)Festive Family Gig
Panto or Christmas showBristol Beacon · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Beacon, Lantern Hall, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
- When
- Sat 19 Dec, 10:30 to 11:15 am or 12 to 12:45 pm
- Price
- £11.76 adult, £7.28 under 18s, £34.08 for 4, babes in arms free
- Ages
- All ages
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Bristol Beacon's House Band plays a set of festive favourites in Lantern Hall, with twinkling props and plenty of ho ho hos. Families are invited to get involved with big singalongs, jamming moments, instruments and props, chair dancing and audience waves, and dressing up is encouraged. The venue says families come in all forms, so nans, cousins and neighbours are all welcome.
There are two 45-minute gigs on Saturday 19 December 2026, from 10:30am to 11:15am and from 12pm to 12:45pm. Adult tickets are £11.76 and under 18s pay the £7.28 concession price, both including booking fees. A Friends and Family ticket for four people costs £34.08 and is applied automatically when four tickets are in the basket. Babes in arms go free. Lantern Hall has a flat floor and can be set up seated or standing.
Parent tip: Select four tickets together to get the Friends and Family discount automatically. Festive outfits are welcome.
See dates and details from Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)The Snowman & Paddington Bear's First Concert
Christmas story timeBristol Beacon · Bristol
- Host
- Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Bristol Beacon, Beacon Hall, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
- When
- Tue 22 Dec, 2 to 3:30 pm
- Price
- £18.24 to £34.20 including booking fee, babes in arms free
- Ages
- All ages
- Booking
- Booking essential
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Mozart Symphony Orchestra returns to Bristol Beacon for its annual Christmas performance. Raymond Briggs's The Snowman is shown on the big screen while the orchestra plays the soundtrack live, including Walking in the Air. The afternoon also features Paddington Bear's First Concert, a charming piece for narrator and orchestra in which the Brown family rescue Paddington from the station and take him to a concert.
The concert is on Tuesday 22 December 2026 in Beacon Hall, with doors at 1:30pm, a 2pm start and an approximate finish at 3:30pm. It is suitable for all ages, seating is reserved, and babes in arms go free. Tickets range from £18.24 to £34.20 including the booking fee. Clare Mackenzie narrates, with soprano Alice Mackenzie and conductor Philip Mackenzie.
Parent tip: Seats are reserved, so book together to sit as a family. Babes in arms do not need a paid ticket.
See dates and details from Bristol Beacon (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Wraxall
1 confirmed event in Wraxall, soonest first.
Christmas trail: Festive Friends (Wraxall)
Family Christmas eventNational Trust Tyntesfield · Wraxall
- Host
- National Trust Tyntesfield (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Wraxall BS48 1NX (near Bristol)
- When
- Daily, Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan, 10am to 3pm
- Price
- Trail map £3.50, standard Tyntesfield admission applies
- Ages
- Families, all children welcome
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Over the Christmas holidays, Tyntesfield sets out a festive trail around its estate featuring favourite Christmas characters. Children play Rudolph hoopla, Frosty bowling and a musical challenge with Rockin' Robin as they go, then collect a prize at the end. It sits alongside the house's Christmas season, which this year tells Clara's Nutcracker story through decorations and installations across the house and estate.
The trail runs daily from 10am to 3pm, from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. There is no need to book: just turn up and buy a trail map for £3.50 from Home Farm. Normal Tyntesfield admission applies, and National Trust members get in free. The route is step-free, but the grounds include uneven paths, steep slopes and gravel, so sturdy shoes and weather-ready clothes are a good idea.
Parent tip: Pick up your trail map at Home Farm on arrival. Tyntesfield is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
See dates and details from National Trust Tyntesfield (opens in a new tab)A story for the trip home
Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is hand-painted in watercolour. It is a cosy five-minute read after a big day out.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolour. Ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Bristol Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Bristol in 2026?
We confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Bristol for 2026, each on its host’s own page, including Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella: A Fairytale, Wild Lights at Bristol Zoo Project, The Snowy Day, Little Snowy Hare, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty (Pantomime), Nutcracker and I by Alexandra Dariescu, Christmas trail: Festive Friends (Wraxall), Festive Family Gig and The Snowman & Paddington Bear's First Concert. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.
Where can kids see Santa in Bristol this year?
Santa appears at Santa's Grotto at Cabot Circus. Times and booking rules are in each listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Bristol?
Christmas story times on this page: The Snowy Day and The Snowman & Paddington Bear's First Concert.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 2 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
