Christmas Events for Kids in Exeter (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

5 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 8 Christmas events for kids in Exeter. The season opens on 20 November with Exeter's Winter Wonderland and runs until 3 January with Sleeping Beauty. 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

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Exeter, Farringdon and Kenton: 8
  • First: Exeter's Winter Wonderland, Exeter, 20 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).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Exeter

Kids’ Christmas events
8 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Exeter, Farringdon and Kenton
Season
20 November to 3 January
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Exeter

Listed soonest first: 6 confirmed events in Exeter.

Meet Santa

Exeter's Winter Wonderland

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Exeter's Winter Wonderland runs in Northernhay Gardens from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It opens 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 10pm Friday to Sunday, and it is closed on Christmas Day.

There is skating, a festive funfair with classic rides for young children and a Santa's Grotto where children meet Santa and receive gifts. Grotto visits must be booked in advance. Skating sessions last 45 minutes with skates included. Funfair rides are paid for with tokens.

Parent tip: Book the Santa slot before you go. Ride tokens are bought on site.

Host
Exeter's Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab)
Where
Northernhay Gardens, Exeter EX4 3SA (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Exeter's Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 7 more Exeter events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 4 Santa
  • 4 Shows
  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Crafts

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Panto or Christmas show

Sleeping Beauty

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Exeter Northcott Theatre and Le Navet Bete stage Sleeping Beauty from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The theatre describes it as suitable for the whole family and recommended for age 5+. Tickets run from £21.50 to £70 depending on the performance, with £2 off for under 16s.

Boxing Day and New Year's Day performances have been added for the first time. There are audio-described, BSL-interpreted, captioned and relaxed performances, and a set of No Kids Allowed shows for adults from 8 December, so check the date before booking.

Parent tip: Choose a performance not marked No Kids Allowed. Relaxed performances are listed for families who need a quieter show.

Host
Exeter Northcott Theatre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter EX4 4QB (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Exeter Northcott Theatre (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Christmas at Killerton

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Christmas at Killerton runs from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The ground floor of the house is open daily from 11am to 4pm with last entry at 3.30pm, and it closes at 2pm on 24 December and is closed on 25 and 26 December. No booking is needed.

Families can follow an outdoor children's play trail through the garden, parkland and chapel grounds on hard-standing paths suitable for pushchairs. A 15.55-metre vintage-style helter-skelter costs £1 a ride or £5 for six rides. The house tour is themed on 1923.

Parent tip: Arrive after 2pm for a quieter visit. Relaxed hours sessions need booking.

Host
National Trust Killerton (opens in a new tab)
Where
Killerton, Exeter (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with National Trust Killerton (opens in a new tab)

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Meet Santa

Signing Santa Saturdays

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New for 2026, Princesshay holds Signing Santa Saturdays on 5 and 12 December from 11am to 3pm. Santa sits in his golden sleigh under the glass canopy outside Space NK, joined by an interpreter. The sessions are led by the Deaf Academy and aimed at deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors, and all visitors are welcome.

Princesshay also has Santa on Sundays in the four weeks before Christmas, with a suggested £2.50 donation per child for a photo and a small festive token. The Saturday sessions have no price listed.

Parent tip: Sunday sessions use a suggested donation; the Saturday sessions list no price.

Host
Princesshay (opens in a new tab)
Where
Princesshay (golden sleigh outside Space NK), 9 Catherine Street, Exeter EX1 1QA (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Princesshay (opens in a new tab)

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Panto or Christmas show

Yeti

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Quirk Theatre presents Yeti with Exeter Phoenix from 13 to 27 December 2026. The townsfolk of Little Trusting set out to find a mysterious yeti that has moved into the forest nearby. The show uses projection, puppetry and original music.

It is a show for all the family. Tickets start at £12, with a family ticket at £50 off-peak or £55 peak, plus a £1.50 booking charge. A relaxed performance is on Monday 21 December at 1.30pm and a BSL performance on Sunday 20 December at 4pm.

Parent tip: Performances are on 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 27 December only.

Host
Exeter Phoenix (opens in a new tab)
Where
Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Exeter Phoenix (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

A (little) Christmas Carol

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Exeter Northcott presents A (little) Christmas Carol at Barnfield Theatre from 17 to 29 December 2026. Three siblings are snowed in on Christmas Eve without electricity and tell a story about Ebenezer Scrooge that comes to life around them. A cast of three uses songs, props and storytelling, with a flight over snowy rooftops and a dance party at Fezziwig's factory.

The show is made for children aged 3 to 8, runs 60 minutes with no interval and is described as not the least bit scary. Tickets are £17.50 to £19.50. A relaxed performance is on Monday 28 December at 10.30am.

Parent tip: Several morning performances suit young children. The 17 December show has sold out.

Host
Exeter Northcott Theatre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Barnfield Theatre, Exeter (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Exeter Northcott Theatre (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Farringdon

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Farringdon.

Santa’s grotto

Santa's Grotto at Greendale Farm Shop (Farringdon)

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Greendale Farm Shop on Sidmouth Road, near Farringdon, runs a Santa's Grotto from 5 December 2026. Each child gets a gift to take home, can have photos taken with Santa and can tell him what they would like for Christmas.

Opening times are 12pm to 5pm on 5 and 6 December, and 11am to 6pm on 12, 13 and 19 to 23 December. Visits are booked through the farm shop's booking link.

Parent tip: Book a slot through the farm shop's link before you travel.

Host
Greendale Farm Shop (opens in a new tab)
Where
Greendale Farm Shop, Sidmouth Road, Farringdon EX5 2JU (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Greendale Farm Shop (opens in a new tab)

New events in Exeter every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Exeter every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Kenton

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Kenton.

Meet Santa

Christmas at the Castle (Kenton)

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Powderham Castle near Exeter holds Christmas at the Castle from 29 November to 30 December 2026, closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and 31 December. Daytime runs 10am to 4pm on weekends in December and the run-up to Christmas, with two Christmas shows a day and circus activities children can join. The evening Christmas Light Walk runs 4.15pm to 8.30pm.

Child tickets (3 to 16) are £8.80, adults £11 and under 3s are free. Children meet Father Christmas in a 15-minute timed slot for £11.95, and every child with a grotto ticket gets a gift. Car parking is £5.50.

Parent tip: A Ferris wheel is charged on the day. Parking passes cost £5.50 per car.

Host
Powderham Castle (opens in a new tab)
Where
Powderham Castle, Kenton, Kenton EX6 8JQ (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Powderham Castle (opens in a new tab)

New events in Exeter every week

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More Christmas events for kids in the UK

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cosy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

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)

Christmas events for kids in Exeter: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Exeter?

For 2026, we confirmed 8 Christmas events for kids in Exeter, each on its host’s own page: A (little) Christmas Carol, Christmas at the Castle (Kenton), Sleeping Beauty and 5 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Exeter?

Where to see Santa: Christmas at the Castle (Kenton), Signing Santa Saturdays, Exeter's Winter Wonderland and 1 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Exeter?

Christmas story times on this page: A (little) Christmas Carol.

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 5 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.

The story of Christmas in Exeter

Exeter's Cathedral Christmas Market has drawn more than 600,000 visitors a year for over ten years. In December 2025 more than 750 people ran the High Street dressed as Santa.

600,000 visitors on Cathedral Green

The Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market has been part of the city's festive calendar for more than ten years and draws over 600,000 visitors in its trading period each year. It fills Cathedral Green with more than 100 independent traders. Elsewhere the city lights come on from 13 November, and Princesshay puts up an 8-metre tree in its square with walk-through JOY letters. Exeter Northcott stages a pantomime every winter, and 2026 is Sleeping Beauty.

750 Santas on the High Street in December 2025

On Sunday 7 December 2025 more than 750 people in Santa suits ran the sold-out Exeter Santa Run, a 2.5k and 5k through the city centre along the High Street for Exeter City Community Trust. Four days later, on Thursday 11 December 2025, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum opened its galleries from 5.30 to 7.30pm for Night at the Museum, Winter Wonders. Visitors toured by torchlight, made lanterns, had their faces painted and met Father Christmas, with storyteller Clive PiG telling winter tales. Entry was £5 a person. For 2026, Exeter's Winter Wonderland opens in Northernhay Gardens on 20 November 2026.

A 15.55-metre helter-skelter and a 1923 Christmas

Killerton runs a vintage-style helter-skelter that stands 15.55 metres tall, and its house tour is themed on a 1923 Christmas. Sleeping Beauty is already the fastest-selling panto in Exeter Northcott's history, and Boxing Day and New Year's Day shows were added for the first time. The ice rink at the Winter Wonderland runs 45-minute sessions with skates included. Powderham Castle has a Ferris wheel and a hot chocolate hut, and under-threes go free. Princesshay's Signing Santa Saturdays, led by the Deaf Academy, are new for 2026.

Traditions today

  • Cathedral Green Christmas Market: More than 100 independent traders, over 600,000 visitors a year and a new tipi bar in 2026.
  • Winter Wonderland at Northernhay Gardens: Skating, a funfair with classic rides for young children and a Santa's Grotto that must be booked in advance.
  • The Northcott panto: Sleeping Beauty, written by Le Navet Bete and Martin Berry, recommended for age 5+, with relaxed and BSL performances.
  • Santa in a golden sleigh at Princesshay: Santa Sundays in the four weeks before Christmas, with a suggested £2.50 donation per child, plus new Signing Santa Saturdays.
  • The Exeter Santa Run: A 2.5k and 5k fun run in Santa suits along the High Street for Exeter City Community Trust. More than 750 took part in 2025.
  • Christmas at the Castle and Killerton: Powderham has a timed Father Christmas grotto and a light walk. Killerton has a play trail and a helter-skelter.

A fact for kids

In December 2025 more than 750 grown-ups and children ran through Exeter dressed as Santa. Killerton's helter-skelter is 15.55 metres tall.

Questions about Christmas in Exeter

Which Exeter places have a Santa for children this year?

Four Exeter places have a Santa for children. Princesshay has Signing Santa Saturdays on 5 and 12 December, 11am to 3pm. Greendale Farm Shop near Farringdon runs a grotto on selected days from 5 December. Winter Wonderland in Northernhay Gardens has a grotto that must be booked ahead, and Powderham Castle charges £11.95 per child.

When and where is Exeter's Winter Wonderland in 2026?

Exeter's Winter Wonderland is in Northernhay Gardens, postcode EX4 3SA, from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is open 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 10pm Friday to Sunday, and closed on Christmas Day. Skating, funfair rides and a bookable Santa's Grotto are listed.

How much does Sleeping Beauty cost at Exeter Northcott?

Tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Exeter Northcott range from £21.50 to £70 depending on the performance, with £2 off for children under 16. The panto runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and the theatre recommends it for age 5 and over.

Is the Northcott panto suitable for young children?

The Northcott says Sleeping Beauty is suitable for the whole family and recommended for age 5 and over. It has relaxed, BSL-interpreted, captioned and audio-described performances. A set of No Kids Allowed shows for adults runs from 8 December to 2 January, so families should avoid those dates.

Which Exeter Christmas show is made for children aged 3 to 8?

A (little) Christmas Carol at Barnfield Theatre is made for ages 3 to 8, from 17 to 29 December 2026. Three snowed-in siblings tell the Scrooge story, with friendly ghosts and nothing scary. It runs 60 minutes with no interval, and tickets are £17.50 to £19.50.

When is Yeti at Exeter Phoenix and what does a family ticket cost?

Quirk Theatre's Yeti plays at Exeter Phoenix on Gandy Street from 13 to 27 December 2026, at 1.30pm and 4pm on most days. Tickets start at £12. A family ticket is £50 off-peak or £55 peak, plus a £1.50 booking charge. No age range is given.

Are there relaxed or BSL Christmas shows for families in Exeter?

Yes. Yeti has a relaxed performance on Monday 21 December at 1.30pm and a BSL performance on Sunday 20 December at 4pm. A (little) Christmas Carol has a relaxed show on Monday 28 December at 10.30am. Sleeping Beauty lists relaxed, BSL-interpreted, captioned and audio-described performances.

What is Signing Santa at Princesshay?

Signing Santa Saturdays are new for 2026 at Princesshay, on 5 and 12 December from 11am to 3pm. Santa sits in his golden sleigh outside Space NK with an interpreter. The Deaf Academy leads the sessions for deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors, and all visitors are welcome.

Which Exeter Christmas outing suits my child's age?

It depends on age. Under fives suit Winter Wonderland rides, Powderham's shows and Killerton's play trail. Ages 3 to 8 suit A (little) Christmas Carol at Barnfield Theatre. Ages 5 and up suit the Sleeping Beauty panto at Exeter Northcott.

What is open in Exeter with children on 25 December?

Very little. Winter Wonderland is closed on Christmas Day, and Killerton and Powderham are closed on 25 and 26 December. Killerton closes at 2pm on 24 December, and A (little) Christmas Carol has Christmas Eve shows. Sleeping Beauty adds a Boxing Day performance this year, so that is the nearest family show.

What can children do at Killerton at Christmas?

Killerton has an outdoor children's play trail through the garden, parkland and chapel grounds on paths suitable for pushchairs. There is a 15.55-metre vintage-style helter-skelter at £1 a ride, or £5 for six. Inside, the ground floor is open for a tour themed on a 1923 Christmas.

Does Powderham Castle have a Father Christmas grotto?

Yes. Children meet Father Christmas at Powderham in a 15-minute timed slot, and every child with a grotto ticket receives a gift. The grotto costs £11.95 per child. Christmas at the Castle runs from 29 November to 30 December 2026 and is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and 31 December.

Are under-threes free at Powderham Castle's Christmas event?

Yes, children under 3 are free. Children aged 3 to 16 pay £8.80 and adults pay £11. The grotto is extra at £11.95 per child, and babies under 1 can join an older sibling in the grotto free but get no gift unless booked. Parking is £5.50 per car.

When is Santa's Grotto at Greendale Farm Shop?

Greendale Farm Shop on Sidmouth Road, near Farringdon, opens its grotto from 5 December 2026. It runs 12pm to 5pm on 5 and 6 December, and 11am to 6pm on 12, 13 and 19 to 23 December. Each child takes home a gift. Visits are booked through the farm shop's link.

Is ice skating at Exeter's Winter Wonderland suitable for small children?

Sessions last 45 minutes plus time to fit skates, and skates are included in the ticket. For younger children there is a funfair with classic rides for young children, paid for with tokens. Check the booking page for age rules before buying.

Is the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market good for children?

The market has more than 100 independent traders but no dedicated children's activities. The market has been a fixture for more than ten years and draws over 600,000 visitors a year. Expect crowds on Cathedral Green, and look at the Winter Wonderland or the shows for dedicated children's activities.

How many people take part in the Exeter Santa Run?

More than 750 people ran the sold-out Exeter Santa Run on Sunday 7 December 2025. Runners wore Santa suits for a 2.5k and 5k through the city centre along the High Street. It raised money for Exeter City Community Trust, the partner charity of Exeter City Football Club.

What happened at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum's Winter Wonders night in 2025?

On Thursday 11 December 2025 the Royal Albert Memorial Museum held Night at the Museum, Winter Wonders from 5.30 to 7.30pm at £5 a person. Families toured galleries with torches, made lanterns, had face paints and met Father Christmas. Storyteller Clive PiG told winter tales, and children had to be accompanied by a paying adult.

Which pantomime is on at Exeter Northcott this Christmas?

Sleeping Beauty is the Exeter Northcott panto for 2026, running from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It is written by Le Navet Bete and Martin Berry and recommended for age 5 and over. Boxing Day and New Year's Day shows were added for the first time, and it is already the fastest-selling panto in the theatre's history.

Do we need to book Santa's Grotto at Exeter's Winter Wonderland?

Yes. Visitors must book a Santa's Grotto slot in advance, and the grotto is open on selected dates only. Children meet Santa and receive gifts. Check the booking link for prices and age limits before travelling to Northernhay Gardens.

Sources

  1. Visit Exeter: Christmas in Exeter, Visit Exeter
  2. Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market is back, announcing exciting additions for 2026, Exeter Cathedral
  3. Exeter's Winter Wonderland, Exeter's Winter Wonderland
  4. Exeter's Winter Wonderland FAQs, Exeter's Winter Wonderland
  5. Sleeping Beauty, Exeter Northcott
  6. Cast Set for Exeter Northcott's 2026 Panto SLEEPING BEAUTY, BroadwayWorld
  7. Yeti, Exeter Phoenix
  8. A (little) Christmas Carol, Exeter Northcott
  9. Christmas at Princesshay 2026, Princesshay
  10. Santa's Grotto 2026, Greendale Farm Shop
  11. Christmas at the Castle 2026, Powderham Castle
  12. Christmas at Killerton, National Trust
  13. More than 750 join Santa Run through Exeter, Crediton Courier
  14. Night at the Museum, Winter Wonders, RAMM
  15. Family Events in Exeter, Visit Exeter
Kelsey Cecil
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