Christmas Events for Kids in Preston (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Preston. The season opens on 14 November with Santa's Grotto Experience at Barton Grange and runs until 2 January with Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at Ribby Hall Village. 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 Preston, Wrea Green and Brock: 4
  • First: Santa's Grotto Experience at Barton Grange, Brock, 14 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 Preston

Kids’ Christmas events
4 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Preston, Wrea Green and Brock
Season
14 November to 2 January
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Preston

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Preston.

Santa’s grotto

Santa's Grotto, featuring Santa Steve

Expand to see the parent tip

Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston, on Garstang Road in Broughton, hosts a Santa's Grotto featuring Santa Steve on Saturday 21 November 2026.

Contact the hotel for times, prices and booking details.

Parent tip: Contact the hotel for slots and prices.

Host
Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston (opens in a new tab)
Where
Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston, Garstang Road, Broughton, Preston PR3 5JB (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston (opens in a new tab)

New events in Preston every week

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Christmas events for kids in Wrea Green

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in Wrea Green.

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 3 more Preston events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Preston.
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  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
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Coming up on this page

  • 3 Santa
  • 1 Shows
  • 1 Crafts

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Santa’s grotto

Santa's Grotto at Ribby Hall Village (Wrea Green)

Expand to see the parent tip

Ribby Hall Village runs a Santa's Grotto from 15 November to 24 December 2026. The village is on Ribby Road in Wrea Green, on the Fylde side of Preston.

There is an evening slot of 5.50pm to 7.10pm, with prices from £29.95. Check ages with Ribby Hall before you plan a trip. The village also runs its Sleeping Beauty panto over the same weeks, which makes it possible to put both on the same day out.

Parent tip: Call Ribby Hall on 0800 085 1717 to check slots before travelling.

Host
Ribby Hall Village (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green PR4 2PR (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ribby Hall Village (opens in a new tab)

New events in Preston every week

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

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Panto or Christmas show

Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at Ribby Hall Village (Wrea Green)

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Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green, on the Fylde side of Preston, stages Sleeping Beauty as its family pantomime. The run starts on 15 November 2026 and finishes on 2 January 2027, with the show listed for 12.30pm to 3pm.

The organiser, Busy Bees Entertainment Company, describes a silly fairy-tale with a comedic villain, eccentric characters, colourful costumes, music and audience participation, with jokes for both children and adults. The story turns on whether Sleeping Beauty will wake from her enchanted sleep. Tickets start at £14 and can be booked on the Ribby Hall day visitors site or by phone.

Parent tip: Book through the Ribby Hall day visitors site or call 0800 085 1717. No age guidance is given.

Host
Ribby Hall Village (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green PR4 2PR (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ribby Hall Village (opens in a new tab)

New events in Preston every week

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

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Brock

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Brock.

Santa’s grotto

Santa's Grotto Experience at Barton Grange (Brock)

Expand to see the parent tip

Barton Grange Garden Centre on Garstang Road in Brock runs a Santa's Grotto Experience from 14 November to 24 December 2026. Spaces are limited and the experience sells out quickly.

The experience has three rooms: the North Pole, where children make reindeer food and join a sing-along with the elves; Santa's Grotto, for wish lists and a keepsake photograph; and the Present Room, where each child chooses a gift. Children also decorate a gingerbread cookie in Mrs Christmas' Kitchen. Quieter SEN sessions are offered in the morning and evening.

Parent tip: Booking is required. Quieter SEN sessions are available.

Host
Barton Grange Garden Centre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Barton Grange Garden Centre, Garstang Road, Brock PR3 0BT (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Barton Grange Garden Centre (opens in a new tab)

New events in Preston every week

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

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in the UK

A story for the trip home

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Christmas events for kids in Preston: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Preston?

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Preston, each on its host’s own page: Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at Ribby Hall Village (Wrea Green), Santa's Grotto Experience at Barton Grange (Brock), Santa's Grotto at Ribby Hall Village (Wrea Green) and 1 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Preston?

Where to see Santa: Santa's Grotto Experience at Barton Grange (Brock), Santa's Grotto at Ribby Hall Village (Wrea Green) and Santa's Grotto, featuring Santa Steve. Check the listings above for times and booking.

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.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Preston

Preston holds a Guild every 20 years, a celebration tracing back to a royal charter of 1179. Its Christmas is smaller and more local, with lights on the Flag Market, grottos for the youngest children and a panto at Ribby Hall Village.

A fair charter from 1179 and a Guild every 20 years

Preston's biggest tradition is not a Christmas one, but it shapes how the city likes to celebrate. King Henry II granted a royal charter in 1179, and with it the right to hold a Guild Merchant. Since 1542 the Preston Guild has come round every 20 years.

The last Guild was in 2012. Guild week for the next one runs from Saturday 28 August to Sunday 5 September 2032. The Guild Hall on Lancaster Road still holds the city's main theatre and concert hall, and its Guild Lounge hosted Santa's Christmas Cracker in December 2024. Out at Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green, Sleeping Beauty is the panto from 15 November 2026.

Thousands on the Flag Market when the lights came on in 2025

The 2025 lights switch-on took place on the Flag Market, run by Preston's Business Improvement District. Blog Preston readers chose Debbie Meade-McLoughlin of Jade's Bags to press the switch, for her charity work in memory of her late daughter, Jade.

The show lasted over two hours, with vintage classics from Warren Michaels and TikTok star Henry Oliver. SpudBros introduced the Dementia Choir and announced a Christmas partnership with them. Thousands of people turned up, and a few brief rain showers did not stop anyone. The year before, the BID called the switch-on Preston's biggest free event of the year.

Presents for every child and a butter pie bratwurst night

Preston has a habit of giving children something to take home. Santa's Christmas Cracker at the Guild Lounge in December 2024 was particularly suited to ages 2 to 8, and every child received a present. The free grotto at Preston Market Hall on Earl Street also gives a gift to each child who visits.

In December 2021 the council's festive list included a late-night shopping evening called Bratwurst & Butter Pie on Cannon Street, Winckley Street and Guildhall Street. Reindeer and a sleigh visited Winckley Square Gardens that season, with face painting and an interactive snow globe.

Traditions today

  • The Flag Market lights switch-on: A free evening show on the Flag Market run by Preston's Business Improvement District. Thousands came in 2025.
  • Panto at Ribby Hall Village: Sleeping Beauty runs at Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green from 15 November 2026 to 2 January 2027. The Guild Hall's own pantos go back at least to 2018.
  • A gift for every child: Santa's Christmas Cracker gave every child a present in 2024, and the free grotto at Preston Market Hall does the same.
  • Garden centre and holiday village grottos: Barton Grange in Brock and Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green both list grottos between mid November and Christmas Eve 2026.
  • Winckley Square festive days: In 2021 the square held reindeer visits and a Winter Wonderland with Father Christmas.
  • The Guild as a model for celebration: The 2032 Guild already has dates for four processions, including a torchlight one.

A fact for kids

Preston's Guild only happens once every 20 years, so some children grow up and have their own children before the next one. People say something is "once every Preston Guild" when it hardly ever happens.

Questions about Christmas in Preston

How often is the Preston Guild held, and when is the next one?

The Preston Guild is held every 20 years, a pattern that has run since 1542. The last one was in 2012, and the next Guild week runs from Saturday 28 August to Sunday 5 September 2032.

Where does the Preston Guild come from?

It goes back to 1179, when King Henry II granted Preston a royal charter and the right to hold a Guild Merchant. The earliest named Guild in the surviving list is from 1328. Since 1542 it has been held about every 20 years, and the city still celebrates it.

What does "once every Preston Guild" mean?

It is a local way of saying something happens very rarely, because the Guild comes round only once every 20 years. People in Preston use the phrase the way others say "once in a blue moon". A fuchsia variety is even named Preston Guild.

What was the Guild Merchant in Preston?

It worked as a business union run by burgesses. Anyone who wanted to trade in Preston had to belong to it. When free trade arrived in the 18th century the Guild lost that role, but Prestonians kept it going as a social celebration.

Why does the Preston Guild Court open on a Monday?

Since 1562 the Guild Court has opened on the Monday after 29 August, the feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist. For 2032 that is Bank Holiday Monday, 30 August. The court then adjourns for another 20 years after a short formal ceremony.

How long did the 2012 Preston Guild last, and what did it cost?

The 2012 Guild festival lasted 10 days and cost £5.4m to stage. Planning for 2032 started about three years earlier than usual, and one councillor has forecast it could cost roughly double the 2012 figure. Families can follow the plans in the news before 2032.

What processions are planned for the 2032 Guild?

Four processions are planned: a trade procession on 28 August, a churches procession on 30 August after the Guild Court opens, a community procession on 3 September and a torchlight procession on the evening of 4 September. The mayoral thanksgiving service follows on 5 September.

Who switched on the Preston Christmas lights in 2025?

Debbie Meade-McLoughlin of Jade's Bags switched on the Preston lights in 2025. Blog Preston readers chose her for her charity work in memory of her late daughter, Jade. The switch-on was on the Flag Market and was organised by Preston's Business Improvement District.

Where is the Preston Christmas lights switch-on held, and is it free?

It is held on the Flag Market in the city centre, and light displays also appear on Friargate. The Business Improvement District calls it Preston's biggest free event of the year. City centre businesses fund it, with Booths and Preston City Council among the sponsors.

Who performed at the Preston lights switch-on in 2025?

The show ran for over two hours and featured vintage classics from Warren Michaels and performances by TikTok star Henry Oliver. SpudBros introduced the Dementia Choir. Thousands of people came, and the crowd stayed through a few brief rain showers.

Which Christmas events in Preston are free for families?

The Flag Market lights switch-on is free, and the Business Improvement District calls it Preston's biggest free event of the year. The grotto at Preston Market Hall on Earl Street is also free, with a gift for every child. The Fire Garden in Avenham and Miller Parks was free to enter in 2024.

Which pantomime did Preston Guild Hall stage in 2018?

The Guild Hall staged Cinderella as its pantomime for 2018, written and directed by comedian Phil Walker, who also starred in it. Jade Natalie played Cinderella, and Jamie Morris and Tarot Joseph played the Ugly Sisters. The hall's pantos go back at least that far.

Is there a Sleeping Beauty panto near Preston in 2026?

Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green stages Sleeping Beauty from 15 November 2026 to 2 January 2027, with the show listed for 12.30pm to 3pm. Tickets start at £14. The organiser is Busy Bees Entertainment Company, and the show includes audience participation and jokes for children and adults.

Where can kids meet Santa near Preston in 2026?

Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock runs its Santa's Grotto Experience from 14 November to 24 December 2026, and Ribby Hall Village has a grotto from 15 November to 24 December. Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston hosts Santa Steve on 21 November 2026.

Is there a free Santa's grotto in Preston?

Preston Market Hall on Earl Street has a free Santa's grotto, with a special gift for every child. In the past, Santa has appeared in sessions of 30 minutes through the day. Check with Preston Market Hall for this season's dates.

Is there a Christmas show for toddlers and small children in Preston?

Santa's Christmas Cracker at the Guild Lounge in December 2024 was particularly suitable for children aged 2 to 8, with performances through the day from 14 to 24 December and a present for every child. It was a 45-minute interactive family show, so younger children were not asked to sit through a long evening.

What is the Fire Garden in Preston?

The Fire Garden was a December evening display in Avenham and Miller Parks, listed for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December 2024 from 5pm to 9pm, and free to enter. No later dates have been announced.

Was the Fire Garden in Preston free to enter?

Yes. The Fire Garden in Avenham and Miller Parks was free to enter.

Where is Preston Guild Hall and what is it known for?

Preston Guild Hall is on Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HT. It houses the city's main theatre and concert hall, and its Guild Lounge hosts the winter family shows, including Santa's Christmas Cracker in December 2024. The hall is named for the Guild, the 20-year celebration.

Sources

  1. Preston Guild, Made in Preston
  2. Next Preston Guild to begin on August bank holiday in 2032, Blog Preston
  3. Key dates for the next Preston Guild confirmed, Lancashire Evening Post
  4. In pictures: Preston's Christmas lights switch-on 2025, Blog Preston
  5. Preston set to dazzle at the Christmas Lights Switch-On, Lancashire Evening Post
  6. Christmas Events in Preston 2024, Visit Preston
  7. Meet Father Christmas, Visit Lancashire
  8. Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at Ribby Hall Village, Visit Lancashire
  9. Barton Grange launches Santa's Grotto experience for 2026, Lancashire Evening Post
  10. Santa's Christmas Cracker, Preston Guild Hall
  11. Cinderella (Pantomime), Preston Guild Hall
  12. Bratwurst and butter pie, it's Christmas in Preston, Lancashire Evening Post
  13. Free Santa's grotto at Preston Markets, Visit Lancashire
  14. Christmas fun and events, Visit Lancashire
Kelsey Cecil
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