Christmas in Norfolk
Published on
by Keys Holidays Cottages
The festive season is a wonderful time to explore Norfolk. From the breathtaking tunnel of light in Norwich to beautiful Christmas lights in market towns, Christmas shows, pantos, festive fairs and special yuletide steam train trips, it's a magical season in the county.
Cover image: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash
- Table of contents
- The Thursford Christmas Spectacular
- Santa's Magical Journey at Thursford
- Christmas at Sandringham
- North Norfolk Railway Lights Express
- Winter Wonderland Norwich
- Cromer Pier Christmas Show
- Wells Christmas Tide Festival
- Pantos in Norfolk
- Christmas Lights Walk at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden
- Christmas at Holkham Hall
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular is the biggest festive show of its kind in Europe, and has been watched by a staggering 5.8 million people since it was first staged in 1977.
Featuring a cast of 130 professional singers, dancers and musicians, most of whom are straight out of the West End, the three hour performance delivers an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites, with famous and much-loved chart toppers being performed alongside traditional carols.
Set in the magical surroundings of the Thursford Collection with its mechanical organs and fairground carousels, the show runs from 8th November until 23rd December, with two performances each day.
Image: Thursford
Find out moreSanta's Magical Journey at Thursford
This is a visit to see Santa like no other - taking in Thursford's magical Enchanted Journey of Light.
Your journey takes you from penguins and polar bears to giant sized teddy bears ready to load Santa’s sleigh and then past the busy elves hard at work in the toy factory with the wonderful wrapping machine. You’ll meet lots of fantasy characters including the snowman’s family but watch out for the snowballs!
After your visit to Father Christmas’s grotto, your journey continues as you venture outside to the Lantern Light Extravaganza, the Enchanted Journey of Light. With lots of creatures to marvel at – a beautiful, breath-taking festival of luminous sculptures, from a fantasy underwater world to the wilds of the North Pole. Watch out for the naughty mushroom gnomes!
The Magical Journey opens at weekend and selected Fridays from 23rd November, and throughout the final week running up to 23rd December. Booking is essential.
Image: Thursford
Find out moreChristmas at Sandringham
Sandringham House in northwest Norfolk is where the Royal Family traditionally celebrates Christmas. But everybody has the chance to share in the festivities in the weeks leading up to the big day, with the spectacular Luminate Sandringham Light Trail and the traditional Sandringham Christmas fair.
Luminate is a spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, to delight and enthral your senses. As darkness descends, you can embark on an enchanting journey, weaving a captivating light trail through the Royal parkland, immersing yourself in a mesmerising mile long trail with stunning lighting elements and fabulous interactive light play, all set to music.
The Sandringham Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair brings beautifully hand-crafted items and gifts presented by well over a hundred craftsmen, artists and designers, many of whom will be working at the event. Alongside this, the Food Hall provides a fabulous array of food and drink from both regional and national producers and retailers.
Luminate is open nightly from 21st November until 24th December; tickets must be booked in advance online. The Sandringham Christmas Fair takes place from 15th-17th November.
Find out moreNorth Norfolk Railway Lights Express
The Norfolk Lights Express is an immersive, wintertime steam train experience on the North Norfolk Railway. Arrive after dark at Sheringham Station and you’ll be greeted by the magical sight of a steam-hauled train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights.
As your train steams from Sheringham to Holt and back, you will literally see the countryside in a whole new light as the on-board lights shine on to the scenery in a series of changing colours. The theme for this year, Four Seasons in Colour, will also be brought to life by the on-board narration and music. During the 5½ mile journey to Holt you’ll pass ten colourful lit-up displays on the lineside or dramatically set in the woods adjoining the track, all telling the story of the changing seasons.
The journey includes a break at Holt, giving you the option to hop off and take photographs with the train or to visit the onboard bar. The return journey provides another opportunity to enjoy the lineside displays with the on-board soundtrack complete with some seasonal music adding to the spectacle.
The North Norfolk Railway also operates Santa Specials, with on-board entertainers an, of course, the chance to meet Father Christmas in his enchanted Christmas Tree Kingdom at Weybourne Station.
The Norfolk Lights express runs from 15th November to 5th January; the Santa Specials run from 23rd November to 23rd December.
Image: North Norfolk Railway
Find out moreWinter Wonderland Norwich
Described as East Anglia's spectacular Christmas destination, Winter Wonderland Norwich is a huge pop-up festive theme park at the Norfolk Showground on the edge of Norwich.
The attraction includes an ice skating rink, a real Christmas tree maze, rides and attractions, Santa's Wonderland, Christmas market stalls, food and drink, and a host of yuletide entertainments. On selected dates there will also be grand fireworks displays.
Winter Wonderland Norwich runs from 22nd November to 5th January.
Image: Winter Wonderland
Find out moreCromer Pier Christmas Show
The highly acclaimed Cromer Pier Christmas Show will warm your hearts and get you well and truly in the Christmas spirit, offering an exciting blend of the finest variety of entertainment in one enthralling festive theatre show.
Expect usual West End production values, including a jaw-dropping 8-meter video wall delivering impressive special effects alongside traditional scene sets, creating a visual sensation. Add to that, dazzling bespoke costumes, spectacular lighting effects, thrilling specialty acts, powerhouse vocals, music and spellbinding dance routines, as well as laugh-out-loud comedy.
The Cromer Pier Christmas Show runs from 16th November to 29th December.
Image: William Jarvis Photography
Find out moreWells Christmas Tide Festival
A real community event, the Wells Christmas Tide Festival takes place over the last weekend of November, and includes Santa arriving at the Quay by boat, carol singing, street entertainers, a festive procession, the ceremonial turning on of the town's lights, and a spectacular fireworks display over the marshes.
Alongside all of this, a Christmas market takes place all weekend, offering the chance to find those unique and memorable Christmas gifts. Finally, you can visit the Christmas tree festival in Wells Congregational Hall.
Wells Christmas Tide Festival takes place from Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December.
Image: www.wellschristmastide.org.uk
Find out morePantos in Norfolk
Christmas time is pantomime season, and all of the county's theatres offer a special festive production.
The county's biggest panto is Aladdin at Norwich's Theatre Royal, starring comedian Joe Tracini, Lisa Maxwell from Eastenders, musical theatre star Tarik Frimpong and jazz supremo Meesha Turner. Aladdin runs from 7th December until 5th January.
Other pantos around the county include:
- Robin Hood at Sheringham Little Theatre (13th December to 4th January)
- Cinderella at King's Lynn Corn Exchange (10th December to 5th January)
- Show White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Princess Theatre, Hunstanton (7th December to 5th January)
- Snow White at St George's Theatre, Great Yarmouth (13th December to 31st December)
- Cinderella at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre (5th December to 4th January
Christmas Lights Walk at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden
Set on the Norfolk Broads, Fairhaven comprises over 130 acres of ancient woodland, woodland gardens and water gardens. Here you will find an ancient fishpond which is listed in the Domesday book, a 950 year-old oak, and many different species of flowers, including the spectacular Candelabra primulas, 50,000 of which flower in the second half of May and the first half of June.
At Christmas Fairhaven creates a magical trail through their historic woodland, taking in the twinkling of fairy lights, families of deer and glowing stars and snowdrops. You can stop for a top up of hot chocolate, mulled wine or even a Bailey's Hot Chocolate and mince pie, or even grab a large marshmallow to taste on the fire pits.
Fairhaven's Christmas Lights Walk takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 30th November and 22nd December.
Image: Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden
Find out moreChristmas at Holkham Hall
As featured on Channel 4's 'Christmas at Holkham', the magnificent Palladian Holkham Hall is dressed in festive finery every year, with guided tours by candlelight available to make the most of the evocative atmosphere.
The intimate candlelight experience begins in the splendid Marble Hall with a welcome from your tour guide, and some live festive music before you are taken on a guided tour of the magnificent state rooms adorned with opulent Christmas decorations and beautiful flickering candlelight. Your guide will share how the installations and unique decorations were created, and divulge the inspiration behind each room setting. The tour finishes in the magnificent old kitchen where you can enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a mince pie.
Holkham Hall by Candlelight takes place on 5th, 12th and 16th December.
Image © Holkham Estate
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