It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like

Here’s our top picks of things to do and places to go for the whole family in Dorset over the festive season.

Experience the Magic of Meeting Santa on the Swanage Railway

Christmas Festivities at Brewery Square

Dorchester’s Brewery Square kicks off the festive season in style on 24 November with a host of live music, performances and entertainment, as well as their spectacular lights illumination.

From 4 - 8pm, you can enjoy late night shopping, brass bands, the London Gospel Choir, mulled wine, visit Santa’s Grotto and even a Father Christmas Disco. Skating in the Square also opens and runs until 5 January.

Make it a Christmas to Remember

Escape the hustle and bustle of the high streets to enjoy a countdown to Christmas celebrating good old family fun at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest.

You can climb aboard an authentic steam train in miniature to see Santa in his magnificent station grotto on one of Moors Valley Railway’s Santa Specials, enjoy a magical performance

Children can write letters to Santa for free at Brewery Square. Simply pick up a template letter from Skating in the Square and return via the Brewery Square Santa Mail post box. Last posting date is 16 December. Or why not tell Santa what’s on your Christmas wish list in person, by visiting Santa’s Grotto on Christmas Eve.

Open from 12 – 2pm, it’s a chance to meet him and his reindeer one last time before a busy night ahead delivering presents around the world.

of Rumpelstiltskin or make a wreath to decorate your home. There will also be a family Christmas Quiz Trail, festive refreshments and a traditional Christmas Tree Shop as well as plenty of family gift ideas at the Moors Valley Gift Shop.

Full details can be found at www.moors-valley.co.uk/christmas

For a really special Christmas treat, take your children to meet Santa on his special steam train along the Swanage railway.

Children will receive a wrapped age appropriate present from Father Christmas. Santa's helpers will hand out a festive drink and a mince pie for the adults and a soft drink and wrapped biscuit for children.

During your one-hour return journey there will be children's entertainment in each carriage for even more festive fun. Children's entertainment on the platform will commence 45 minutes prior to departure.

Santa Special trains run during weekends from 1 – 16 December, and daily from 21 – 24 December.

The Stress-Free Way to See Santa

Looking for a stress free way to visit Father Christmas with your little ones? ‘Farmer Christmas’ is available to meet the children in his wonderful Winter cabin this December at Farmer Palmer’s.

NO pre-booking required and NO LONG QUEUES! We understand how excited children

get when meeting Father Christmas, so our clever Elves operate a time slot booking system when you arrive at the door – simple! First Christmas with your little one? Let our ‘moovelous’ team make it magical!

For more information please visit www.farmerpalmers.co.uk/whats-on

10 Families Dorset familiesonline.co.uk